End of free bus passes for resort pensioners

North Yorkshire County Council has launched a public consultation on proposals to end free bus travel for pensioners and the disabled on two bus routes in Scarborough.

The move is aimed at saving at least £240,000 in the current financial year as the council battles a multi-million pound funding crisis after taking on the running of North Yorkshire’s bus passes.

The two affected routes are Service 108 from the Sea Life Centre to the promenade via the town centre and Service 109 along the seafront.

Welcome to Yorkshire’s chief executive, Gary Verity, said: “Although we would obviously be disappointed if the service wasn’t included in concessionary travel scheme, we appreciate that in these hard times tough decisions have to be made and we are confident that this will not impact on the visitor numbers in Scarborough.”

The bus pass system was handed to the county council on April 1 after the Government ordered for the responsibility to be passed from borough and district authorities.

The new structure will cost £10m to administer each year, while the county council already fights to save £69m over the next four years.

The Government has provided half of the money, but the council is having to stump up the remaining £5m for the concessionary fares scheme.

The council’s assistant director for integrated passenger transport, Richard Owens, confirmed the money has had to be found through savings across all departments at County Hall.

Concessionary fares are offered on more than 200 services in North Yorkshire. While the council has to provide the free travel on the vast majority, concessionary fares can be halted on services mainly used by tourists.

email [email protected]