Wheels come off free travel plan

Written by Edmund Tobin and published in Epping Forest Guardian on Wed 22nd Apr 2009

THE District Council has slammed the door on the possibility of any immediate help for free tube travel for elderly people.

Members of Epping Forest District Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee voted to refuse even considering negotiating with Transport for London for concessions for over-60s using the central line.

At the moment any London pensioner can travel free on the tube system using the Freedom Pass scheme, but their counterparts in Epping Forest District have no such support - even if they live yards from the border.

Despite the agreed unfairness of the situation, councillors said the scheme would be far too expensive - especially given the current economic climate.

Cllr Brian Rolfe said: "I do not think at this stage we should be even discussing this, quite frankly. Don't get me wrong, this is something I'd like to have in an ideal situation.

"But this would be a comparatively small group to benefit who would use this mainly for pleasurable purposes, and I don't think we can afford these luxuries."

Other councillors spoke in favour of supporting a Freedom Pass scheme.

Buckhurst Hill Cllr Ann Haigh said: "I've been a councillor for 13 years and for 13 years the residents in my ward have raised this issue. It comes up at almost every surgery.

"I appreciate all the financial motivations and the thoroughness of this report, but I'm concerned about the word luxury. A lot of people want to access family."

Campaigners for free travel expressed their disappointment at the result.

Grange Hill district councillor David Bateman had raised a petition of 1,178 signatures in support of a Freedom Pass scheme.

He said: "It's very disappointing. I wasn't expecting to get a yes with it, but at least we have got some good information now in the report.

"It's not going to go away. Sooner rather than later something might happen."

Richard Speller, 65, of Bury Road, Sewardstonebury, has been campaigning for years for a scheme.

He said: "I never expected the district or county council to pay it all. There are other options. I would be quite prepared to see a form of fee say £30, £40, £50 which the district or county council might pass on.

"Maybe we should look at creating a little committee to pressure this a bit further. It seems slightly unfair."