Information on Loughborough

Concerns Over Escalating Costs of Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme

Posted on 10/03/2009

The Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, Richard Shepherd (Conservative councillor for Quorn & Mountsorrel Castle), welcomed Stephen Dorrell MP to a meeting with Cabinet Members of Charnwood Borough Council to share concerns over the escalating costs of the national concessionary bus travel scheme.

The scheme offers free off peak bus travel throughout England for people aged 60 and over and for those with qualifying disabilities.

Councillor Richard Shepherd (Conservative councillor for Quorn & Mountsorrel Castle) said, "We are pleased to be associated with the scheme and recognise the benefits to our customers, but there does appear to be a shortfall in government funding resulting in a heavy burden upon Council Tax payers.

Many councils up and down the country are expressing similar concerns over the distribution of funding. Charnwood receives almost £1,250,000 from the government, but forecasts based on the costs of the scheme over the first six months of its operation from the 1st April 2008 suggest that the costs will be in the region of £1,530,000, leaving a deficit of about £280,000.

The Council is hopeful of gaining cross party support for a more equitable distribution of the funding set aside by the government to subsidise the scheme.