MP wants bus cuts for disabled passengers reversed

Liz Jarvis MP is calling on the council "to give everybody the same opportunity to use the buses"

An MP has called on a council to reverse reductions in the scope of disabled people's bus passes.

Liz Jarvis, MP for Eastleigh, has written to Hampshire County Council after a meeting where she heard how visually impaired passengers have been struggling.

The changes, which came into effect in April, restrict free travel to 09:30-23:00 on weekdays and removed the companion entitlement.

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said financial challenges meant it had to focus on providing core services, which "has led to difficult decisions about what we can continue to afford in the future".

The changes, which came into effect in April, restrict free travel to certain times

There are more than 55,000 visually impaired people living in Hampshire, with the MP commenting the "savings to the council are marginal compared to the cost to people's quality of life".

She acknowledged cuts had to be made but said "the most vulnerable people in her community are being hit".

Paul Fenner is severely short-sighted and losing his central vision. He says since April he has had to rearrange his day to work around the times he is able to use the bus for free.

"Where it's been hot recently the sun affects my vision and now I have to go out in peak time," he says.

"I think they need to think about people's needs and requirements, and to keep disabled people and elderly people in the community."

Clive Wood says the previous top-up in Hampshire has made a big difference to him throughout his life

Clive Wood has a visual impairment and is lead regional policy and campaigns manager at the Guide Dogs charity.

He says the previous top-up in Hampshire had made a big difference to him throughout his life and that buses are a primary form of transport for the visually impaired.

"The council, I think, don't recognise the significant impact that this cut has made to people's independence," he says.

"And it's creating more isolation for people because they are not able to travel at a time that suits them, or is convenient for them."

Hampshire County Council added: "The changes will impact a small percentage of journeys made, which go above and beyond the national scheme.

"We appreciate that this means some people may need to adjust their travel arrangements, or pay for some journeys, however bus pass users will still be able to use their bus pass at most times."