Bus pass policy change will benefit 13,000 people

An MP has welcomed a decision to allow people with disabilities to use their bus passes 24/7.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Frome & East Somerset, Anna Sabine, said the decision by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to extend the use of Diamond bus passes would make people feel "more supported".

Ms Sabine had called on local authorities and the Department of Transport (DfT) to make changes after visiting Radstock charity Swallow, which works with teenagers and adults with learning difficulties.

"The young people I met were doing brilliant things and it just seemed unfair that there was an assumption they wouldn't need to get about at certain times," said Ms Sabine.

Dan Norris, the Mayor of the West of England, announced the Diamond bus passes would be available 24/7, as part of the authority's wider proposals to improve bus services in the area.

It will be funded through the £13.6 million of Bus Grant funding secured by the authority for the coming financial year from the government.

Mr Norris said: "Frozen fares for children, the extension of free travel for disabled people, an extra year of free travel for care leavers, and a cap for multi-operator day tickets will be great news for people across our region.

"These initiatives, alongside the enormous popularity of Birthday Buses, will help keep more money in people's pockets and help make it that bit easier for local people to get around by bus. That's better for passengers, better for congestion, and better for our planet."

There are approximately 13,000 Diamond pass holders in the WECA area, and the authority has previously restricted use of the Diamond passes to after 09:00.

Diamond pass holder Hetty Pratt has a disability and lives in assisted accommodation with Swallow but needs to catch a bus into Bath at 05:50 every morning for work.

"I really want a job so that I can be independent and show people that I can live on my own" said Hetty.

"Without the bus I wouldn't be able to get to work and it costs a lot of money."

Ms Sabine said: "The two young people I met aren't working brilliantly high-paid jobs and the bus pass really makes a huge difference to them," said Ms Sabine.

"People with disabilities often have that bus pass because they can't drive, and it's there only means to get into employment."

"As a society it's pretty fair of us to support them getting out into work if they can and they want to."

The move comes alongside a freeze in the price of child fares, an extension of free travel for care leavers and a cap on multi-operator bus tickets.

The DfT provisionally sets the hours that disabled bus passes can be used but local authorities have the ability to change this.

A spokesperson said that they "fully recognise bus passes are vital to many" for access to work, services and keeping people connected.

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