Senior bus travel scheme in Scotland facing cuts

The innovative Scottish scheme which allows those over the age of 60 to travel for free on public buses may be restricted in the future as many are using the plan in order to travel to work.

 

According to the head of Transport Edinburgh Limited, Neil Renilson, the funding allocated to the programme in the new budget is inadequate to support the scheme as it currently operates.

 

In order to make the project feasible and operate within the more limited budget suggested by the Scottish Government, he suggests some amendments to the programme.

 

While giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament's transportation committee, he said: "We are giving free travel to people over the age of 60.

 

"Now it's a political decision and not one for the transport operator, but we sit there and watch the suits piling off the buses in St Andrew Square with their briefcases and going into the office in the morning having travelled there with a concessionary travel pass."

 

All public sector projects are being asked to cut budgets by two per cent. Although Renilson says it wouldn't be a popular decision, "one way of generating that efficiency saving may be to move the age from say 60 to 65".

 

Part of the problem is the baby boom which has put a growing number of older people into the system. Renilson is suggesting the government take a "five year holiday" and stop giving out free transportation passes to the people who will be turning 60, 61 and 62 in the next few years.

 

 

 


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Jennifer Jones Editorial


28/11/2007



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