Pensioners’ free trips from Colchester Park and Ride could be scrapped

County Hall has opened a consultation on plans which could mean a return trip to the town centre for those with older people’s bus passes would cost £1.50 per person. At the moment the council subsidises pensioners’ journeys.

County Hall says the concessionary fares scheme at park and rides across Essex costs it around £447,000 a year.

In order to make savings it could stop free travel for pensioners which it is not legally obliged to provide.

There were 251,598 passenger journeys from the park and ride last year, of which 131,000 were concessionary pass holder trips.

Peter Kay, chairman of Colchester Bus Users’ Support Group, said most other park and rides across the country did not offer free travel for pensioners.

He said: “The council is having to do this because there are so few paying passengers using it during the Monday to Friday peak period which is why it was created in the first place.

“This is about the failure of Colchester Park and Ride to attract passengers.”

The council, however, says usage of the park and ride is on the rise.

Last year’s figures saw an average increase of 8.7 per cent between August and December from 2017.

Barbara Williamson, chairman of Colchester Pensioner’s Action Group, said the move would cause concern amongst some members.

“We hear a lot of comments about nobody being on the park and ride buses,” she said.

“This will certainly not help numbers go up.”

Another idea mooted in the consultation is lowering disabled users fares to £1.50 before 9am. They will still receive free travel after this time.

County Hall said no decisions had been made.

Ray Gooding, cabinet member with responsibility for concessionary fares, said: “I am really keen to hear from you as part of the consultation so that we can ensure we have a service that meets the needs of residents in the most effective way.”

The consultation runs until July 31.

Visit www.essex.gov.uk/park-and-ride-fares-consultation.