Government refuses to pay for old people's bus passes

10.14.31am GMT Mon 17th Dec 2007

The Government has cut funding for free bus passes resulting in Lewes District Council having to foot the bill. The council has estimated it will have to find an extra £600,000 for this year alone or services will face cuts.

Councillors say they are in favour of free bus passes, but they want the Government to continue to fund the scheme. Without this funding, all non-statutory services will face the threat of cuts.

Ann De Vecchi, leader of Lewes District Council, said: "We are fully in support of free bus passes for older people, but the Government must back up their promise with funding. Otherwise the council is faced with no alternative but to cut services such as the space provided for Thebes Gallery."

"We know from being a member of the Sussex Countycard scheme there is not one council in East Sussex that will be fully reimbursed its additional costs.

"There is obviously something seriously amiss with the implementation of this Free Travel policy and we have urged the Department of Transport to review and rectify the position."

Lewes MP Norman Baker said the Government was being 'unfair'.

He added: "This is an intolerable situation for all local councils. While we all support providing extra help for elderly people the Government is being unfair in making promises then leaving councils to pick up the bill.

"This will have a huge impact on the services provided by Lewes District Council unless the Government takes action."