Free travel faces the axe

Pensioners in Staffordshire could see free peak-time bus travel and railcards scrapped as part of government transport cutbacks.

Staffordshire County Council is due to take over operation of the bus pass scheme from the county's district councils from April 1, it has emerged today.

But transport chiefs fear they may be forced to reduce services offered in light of the anticipated cutbacks in central government funding.

Under current regulations, councils only have to offer free bus travel for passholders between 9.30am and 11pm - but many councils offer extra services.

Lichfield District Council offers free bus travel to OAPs around the clock, while Cannock Chase residents can claim free senior railcards, which give a third off most standard rail fares, in addition to their standard bus passes.

Stafford Borough Council offers both, while South Staffordshire Council offers the senior railcard to those aged over 70.

But these initiatives could be scrapped, with a report due to go before the county council's regeneration and infrastructure scrutiny committee on Wednesday estimating such a move would save around £500,000.

In the report, head of integrated transport planning Charles Soutar warns: "In the current financial climate, the cabinet are unlikely to support any enhancements which increase the cost to the council without a very strong justification.

"Although the financial settlement from central government will not be known until early December, there are clear indications that the total funding available nationally will at best only be sufficient to meet the cost of the statutory minimum scheme."

The county council's Conservative cabinet must make a decision on what services to offer by December 1.

By Matt Nicholls