Lancashire County Council is proposing to eliminate subsidized bus travel schemes for disabled individuals and young people, sparking controversy and concerns about accessibility and opportunity.
Lancashire County Council is considering the removal of two subsidized bus travel schemes: a discounted peak-time fare for disabled passengers and free travel for certain young people . The proposed changes, first floated in last year's budget, would see the £1 per journey rate for disabled people traveling before 9:30am on weekdays axed, alongside free travel for 16-18-year-olds undertaking apprenticeships, those not in education, employment or training, young carers, and young parents.
Over 500 of the 10,000 disabled people in Lancashire holding a NoWCard responded to the consultation on the disabled person's fare, with four in five disagreeing with the change. Concerns were raised that it would create barriers for disabled people to enter or remain in employment, access healthcare, or participate in wider community and leisure activities. Meanwhile, 32 respondents from the young person's travel scheme, both current and recent users, expressed worries that losing the initiative would limit their travel options, access to opportunities and services, or even lead them to withdraw from training or care. The council acknowledges that the consultation results should be interpreted with caution due to the proportionally low numbers of responses. If the schemes are ultimately removed, the disabled person's concession will disappear from April 1st, while the young people's free bus pass will be phased out until July 31st. Current pass holders and requested renewals will be honored to avoid disruption during the academic year, but no new applications will be accepted. The removal of the peak-time disabled fare is projected to save the county council £239,000 per year, while scrapping the 16-18-year-old pass would bring in £155,000. These funds could potentially help support the strained school transport budget. The proposed changes sparked controversy during the 2024 county council budget meeting, with the Labour opposition group highlighting the disparity between policy decisions and the personal vehicles of some council members. Speaking ahead of the final decision, County Cllr Rupert Swarbrick, cabinet member for highways and transport, emphasized that the core NoWCard offer for disabled people would remain unaffected. He acknowledged the disappointment some may feel about losing the additional concession and stressed the need for difficult decisions to ensure financial sustainability. He highlighted that local authorities nationwide face similar challenges and must prioritize limited funding. Swarbrick assured that all journeys are capped at £3 and that the council will continue investing in its bus network through the Bus Service Improvement Fund to provide excellent value for money for residents. The government's £3 single bus fare cap, increased from £2 at the end of last year, is currently guaranteed until the end of 2025
Lancashire County Council Bus Travel Disabled People Young People Subsidies Transportation Cuts Consultation Accessibility Funding
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