Tuesday, June 10, 2008

More discrimination on the buses for local pensioners and disabled people...

Pensioners and disabled people across South Kesteven are being denied free all-day bus travel - thanks to the meanest district council in Lincolnshire.

South Kesteven District Council is the only local authority in the whole of Lincolnshire refusing to join a county-wide scheme to help pensioners and disabled people.

Over the years, I've campaigned to improve bus travel, particularly for our pensioners and disabled people. That's how I became known as Fair Deal Phil!

As county councillor for Deeping St James, I've lobbied for a county-wide scheme to end the unfairness. But South Kesteven District Council - and even our local district councillors elected to represent local people - would not sign up.

There was great news in April when Gordon Brown brought in free off-peak bus travel across the country for pass holders.

In a welcome gesture, Lincolnshire County Council has now agreed to stump up the cash to top up the Government scheme and make the bus passes free round-the-clock - if the district councils would match this subsidy.

Six district councils have willingly agreed - South Holland, Lincoln, Boston, East Lindsey, West Lindsey and North Kesteven.

But not South Kesteven.

According to figures in today's Spalding Guardian, it would cost SKDC a little over £17,000 to allow pensioners and disabled people to use their passes at any time.

That sounds like good value to me.

But the county scheme will go ahead without SK.

That means that every council taxpayer in the Deepings and across SK will be forced to pay the county council subsidy - but receive none of the benefits.

Once again, local pensioners and disabled people will have to pay for the incompetence of our Grantham-based district council.

SKDC: Hang your heads in shame.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Phil - If you looked at Grantham's other claim to fame, Snobby Roberts, would you be surprised?

GW

Anonymous said...

They are being denied it because the Government only provides money for off-peak travel.

Nice to see a council putting tax payers first for once!

fairdealphil said...

Yes, the Government has steadily improved the national minium concession for travel for pensioners and disabled people.

Six out of seven councils serving Lincolnshire have clubbed together to top up the service.

You may think that by refusing to improve things for pensioners and disabled people, SK is putting taxpayers first...

my view is that's what the other six are doing.