THOUSANDS of North-East pensioners and disabled people are unable to use the Government's national concessionary travel scheme, which starts today, because of delays in posting passes.
Officials last night blamed the problem on a machine breakdown at the Government contractor that is sending out the new "smart cards" to recipients.
The delay appears to have hit County Durham, where Durham County Council announced that people can still use their old, non-chip cards for bus travel in the region.
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But anyone hoping to travel for free in other parts of the country will have to wait until their new pass arrives.
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, speaking in Durham City, said the scheme would be welcomed "by the majority of pensioners".
As news of the backlog in distributing passes emerged, a Commons Transport Committee reported its fears that the cost of providing free travel will lead to existing services being axed because the scheme is badly-funded.
Its report highlighted "acrimonious disputes" between councils and bus firms, which have already flooded the Department for Transport with more than 100 appeals.
The Liberal Democrats condemned the "catastrophic handling" of the scheme as a huge own goal to penalise bus passengers. Its research found at least 44 councils out of pocket from the old concessionary scheme, including Darlington (£418,000) and Wear Valley (£50,000).
In County Durham, passes were supposedly sent out a week ago. But a county council spokesman said a machine breakdown meant the process was now being done by hand.
He described it as a "temporary hiccup" and said that until new passes arrived, people could use their old one in County Durham, Teesside, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland - but would not be able to use them elsewhere.
The spokesman said: "The new cards are expected to reach people during early April, and should be used to replace the old passes immediately on receipt."
Bus operator Go North-East said it would accept existing and new passes while the problem was sorted out.
The Tyne and Wear Transport Executive, Nexus, said it expected most passes to have reached their recipients today.
North Yorkshire County Council said passes would be delivered on time and councils on Teesside said pensioners should receive passes by Friday.
Gill Cartwright, Darlington Borough Council's Conservative member for Harrowgate Hill, said: "I've been told that people have been receiving envelopes with a leaflet, but no pass.
"If they try to ring the helpline they can't get through because the lines are jammed. This just adds to the frustrations."
A pensioner from Easington, County Durham, said: "We were going to try out the new nationwide system early, but obviously we can't do it with this problem.''
Posted by: pauline, darlington on 9:37am Tue 1 Apr 08
well this bus pass fiasco was to be expected, afterall it must be only about two years since the scheme was announced, far to short a time for our incompetent councils to have our passes ready for 9.30 this morning
well this bus pass fiasco was to be expected, afterall it must be only about two years since the scheme was announced, far to short a time for our incompetent councils to have our passes ready for 9.30 this morning
Posted by: Perplexed, Richmond on 3:31pm Tue 1 Apr 08
I received mine 2 weeks ago but my wife hasn't received hers yet. However, visited Council Offices in Richmond and a temporary pass was issued until National Pass received. To prevent the delay in issuing the passes efforts should have been made to issue them earlier but as usual everything is left to the last minute.
I received mine 2 weeks ago but my wife hasn't received hers yet. However, visited Council Offices in Richmond and a temporary pass was issued until National Pass received. To prevent the delay in issuing the passes efforts should have been made to issue them earlier but as usual everything is left to the last minute.
The part of Durham where i live no disabled persons have yet received there new passes and only a few of the OAP'S have received there's. We have been told it could take another 2 weeks before it's sorted. why couldn't the councils issued the new passes instead of it going out to private tender
The part of Durham where i live no disabled persons have yet received there new passes and only a few of the OAP'S have received there's. We have been told it could take another 2 weeks before it's sorted. why couldn't the councils issued the new passes instead of it going out to private tender
Posted by: hazel, Herefordshire on 12:45pm Wed 2 Apr 08
Why could those already in receipt of bus passes not just have used those passes for the new scheme. It would have saved a lot of money, time and hassle.
Why could those already in receipt of bus passes not just have used those passes for the new scheme. It would have saved a lot of money, time and hassle.
Posted by: Pete, Herefordshire on 11:48pm Wed 2 Apr 08
[quote][bold]hazel[/bold] wrote:
Why could those already in receipt of bus passes not just have used those passes for the new scheme. It would have saved a lot of money, time and hassle.[/quote] Because the new passes hold your details electronically.
There is a central Government database. Every time you travel the card is swiped and your local Council is charged and the bus company receives a payment in the form of subsidies from local councils.
With you old card their is no electronic data held.
The fault for the dealy lies with the Government - they only allowed FIVE printers to print and post ELEVEN MILLION bus passes!
The Government now have a central database holding the photos date of birth and address for every pensioner - the first step towards national identity cards!
hazel wrote:
Why could those already in receipt of bus passes not just have used those passes for the new scheme. It would have saved a lot of money, time and hassle.
Because the new passes hold your details electronically.
There is a central Government database. Every time you travel the card is swiped and your local Council is charged and the bus company receives a payment in the form of subsidies from local councils.
With you old card their is no electronic data held.
The fault for the dealy lies with the Government - they only allowed FIVE printers to print and post ELEVEN MILLION bus passes!
The Government now have a central database holding the photos date of birth and address for every pensioner - the first step towards national identity cards!
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