27/3/2008

Local News

Upset over free bus travel time

FOUR boroughs in Surrey have decided to offer free bus service for disabled people and old age pensioners from 9am, but residents of Surrey Heath still have to wait until 9.30am.
People living in Mole Valley, Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell and Woking will now be able to travel free from 9am on Mondays to Fridays, but their neighbours in Surrey Heath will only be able to travel free after 9.30am. Guildford Borough residents are in the same position.
Margaret Day, who lives in Ash Vale, said she would now have to travel later to volunteer at her local charity shop. She said: “I think the councils are being very petty as it’s only half an hour.”
Mrs Day, who cycles when the weather permits, added: “I think a lot of disabled people are being affected, so at least I’m not in that situation, they’re just putting me out.”
David Whitcroft, the Lib Dem  leader on Surrey Heath Council, is calling on the the council to follow the lead of the four Surrey councils which opted to let people travel earlier.
He said: “Having been told that it was impossible for individual Surrey boroughs to offer different timings, we now have a crazy situation where disabled people in Surrey Heath are being penalised compared to residents in other areas of the county.
“One wonders if this is even legal under the Disability Discrimination Act.”
The situation has become more bizarre, with Transport for London deciding to allow disabled people free travel at any time. 
It means some Surrey residents will have to pay to travel to London, but then will be able to use their Surrey bus pass to travel free on buses in London at any time.
Coun Whitcroft added: “We have ended up with a real dog’s breakfast. The only way out of it is for Surrey Heath Council to see sense immediately and make the same changes as the other four Surrey boroughs.

First printed in: Surrey Hants Star