7:51pm Thursday 19th June 2008
By Lauren Pyrah
PENSIONERS have won their fight to get free early morning buses in Darlington after the council reversed its decision to cut concessionary fares before 9.30am.
Darlington Borough Council has revoked a restriction on free bus travel for the over-60s and disabled people which meant they had to pay for journeys before 9.30am.
Council leader John Williams told The Northern Echo today that an underestimation of the councils insurance policy meant £200,000 had become available.
This is the amount needed to subsidise early morning concessionary fares.
The authority sparked outrage amongst pensioners when it announced it the early morning restriction earlier this year.
It was the only one in the North-East to charge pensioners and disabled people to travel before 9.30am despite a Government policy which meant they were entitled to travel for free.
Coun Williams said the insurance policy had been estimated as £1.5m, but they were told on Wednesday it had come in at £200,000 less than had been budgeted for.
Councillor Gill Cartwright, who started a petition to get free early morning travel for concessionary fares reinstated, said: "I am extremely pleased that the council has finally seen sense and given our pensioners what they deserve."
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