1/4/2008

Local News

Free bus travel scheme takes to road

SENIOR citizens will be able to travel the county for free now new bus measures have been brought in.

But if they live in Surrey Heath, they will have to start their journey half an hour later than the rest of the county because the borough council will only fund the scheme from 9.30am onwards.

As of Tuesday April 1, the over-60s in neighbouring Woking and the rest of Surrey can travel for free from 9am but residents in Chobham, Bisley, Windlesham and West End have to wait until 9.30am.

Surrey Heath Borough Council has been accused of making the system unnecessarily confusing because it is the only authority in the county to start the free travel at a different time.

Surrey County Council’s representative for Knaphill, Diana Smith, believes this will cause confusion and is unfair on Surrey Heath residents.

She said: “I spoke to people who use the Vyne in Broadway, Knaphill, and they are concerned that people in Surrey Heath will not get the same concession as those just across the border.

“The whole situation is a muddle and there has been chaos in terms of the way it has been implemented — the lack of information has been awful.”

But the council has defended its actions, saying it was not given as much government money as other districts to cover the cost of implementing the scheme.

It says if it agrees a 9am start it could mean other services have to suffer.

First printed in: Woking News and Mail