Free bus scheme comes at high price, authorities claim

16 January 2008

The Department for Transport has issued tailored guidance for local authorities to help raise awareness of the new national bus concession among their residents.

But a number of councils have criticised the Government for not covering the full cost of the scheme, which is to be introduced on 1 April.

The leader of Portsmouth City Council has told ministers it can’t pay for the scheme without cutting vital local services.

In a letter to transport secretary, Ruth Kelly, and local government minister, Hazel Blears, Cllr Gerald Vernon Jackson wrote: ‘The Government proposal is to give Portsmouth about £1M less than the cost of this scheme. It’s a government scheme but it is not stumping up enough to pay for it. ‘It’s a major problem for us, and for councils across the country.’

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Free bus scheme comes at high price, authorities claim

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