Published: 30/08/2010 09:00 -
Updated: 27/08/2010 16:14
ESSEX County Council chiefs have been accused of failing to publicise a “crucial” public consultation exercise on the use of free bus passes.
Harlow Liberal Democrat councillor John Strachan is urging pensioners and anyone else eligible for concessionary travel to take part in the County Hall survey which could result in changes being made to the bus pass scheme when the authority takes over responsibility for its delivery next April.
Harlow Liberal Democrat councillor John Strachan is urging pensioners and anyone else eligible for concessionary travel to take part in the County Hall survey which could result in changes being made to the bus pass scheme when the authority takes over responsibility for its delivery next April.
Mr Strachan, who set up a stall outside the bus station on Terminus Street to hand out leaflets about the consultation to passengers, warned that ECC could slap restrictions on routes, enforce shorter validity periods and even withdraw certain passes altogether if pass holders did not show their support for the scheme.
“Myself and the rest of Harlow Liberal Democrats are urging the people of Harlow to take part to ensure that their opinions are heard,” he told the Star. “At the moment the service is a lifeline to some people and changes to the current system could have a huge impact on users.
“I am disappointed that ECC would not send out this crucial consultation to all those affected. They cited cost as the reason but at the same time they could find the money to give cabinet ministers thousands of pounds in allowance increases.”
A county council spokeswoman said the consultation had been widely advertised and it had been decided the “significant additional expense” of writing to individual bus pass holders was unnecessary.
“That we have received around 3,000 replies, one third of them online, by the half way stage of the consultation would seem to bear this out,” she added.
“We recognise that people are concerned about potential changes to the concessionary bus pass scheme and put this 12-week consultation in place to give them a chance to have their say.
“The consultation is being advertised through posters placed on buses, at local libraries and county council offices, at district council offices and through messages on our real time passenger information system at bus stops across the county.”
A consultation form can be requested by calling 08457 430430 or completed online at www.essex.gov.uk/buspass. Copies are also avalaible from Harlow Library.
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