1:08pm Thursday 20th April 2006
By Emma Mayoh
South Ribble MP David Borrow is calling for free bus travel for the over-60s in Preston, South Ribble and Chorley.
Under the current system, brought in on April 1, pensioners can travel free-of-charge in South Ribble but as soon as they cross the borough boundary, they are charged half fare.
Pensioners living in Preston are charged a flat rate of 50p to cross the borough boundary.
Mr Borrow said: "The ideal option would be to have free travel across the county.
"Pensioners shouldn't be treated like this and free travel across the three boroughs seems like a sensible option."
The move has been welcomed by transport chiefs at County Hall.
County Councillor Tony Martin, chair of the cabinet on the best value review of transport, said: "If the three districts want to come to us, then I'm sure we can look at helping them put it together."
The Labour backbencher also asked Tony Blair in Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Commons yesterday (Wednesday), to investigate claims that some districts councils had not properly spent their share of the £350 million from central government allocated for the existing concessionary fares scheme.
Mr Borrow said: "The Government has put forward this money and it should be spent in the right way.
"I have already raised the issue with the minister, David Milliband, and thought it would only be right to ask the Prime Minister to investigate to apply more pressure to get something to happen because the district councils in Lancashire have failed to reach agreement."
Bosses at the county council said they have issued a "goodwill" request to all district councils to admit if they have spent the money allocated to bus fares on other services.
But Councillor Howard Gore, leader of South Ribble Borough Council, said the Government had not specified an amount to be spent on the concessionary bus scheme.
He said: "We asked the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in February how much we had to spend on it, and we were told it was not specified in the grant settlement.
"We've not been told that the money was ring-fenced and I think saying councils are doing something untoward with their money is wholly wrong and a slur on local authorities."
Responding to Mr Borrow's questions, Tony Blair said: "The scheme is there to benefit people and there is absolutely no reason why these councils should not take action and benefit pensioners in the way that they want."
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk