Bus discounts would hit disabled and young people

Lancashire County Council wants to save funds amid financial challenges

People with disabilities and children look set to miss out if a council approves plans to cut bus fare discounts.

Lancashire County Council is proposing to raise the £1 journey fare for disabled people before 09:30 GMT on weekdays.

Free bus travel for apprentices aged 16-18 and those who are not in education, employment or training – as well as young carers and parents – could also be axed to save about £394,000 a year in total.

Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, cabinet member for transport, said: "We understand that some people will be disappointed to be losing the additional concession, which has always been an extra offer on top of the national scheme."

Subsidised exemptions

The government's £3 single bus fare cap – which was increased this January from £2 – is currently guaranteed until the end of 2025.

Mr Swarbrick added that authorities across the country were having to "consider where our limited funding is being spent", adding: "In an ideal world, we would keep this indefinitely, but unfortunately we have to make some difficult decisions to maintain our financial sustainability and resilience."

Commuters who have the disabled persons NoWCard will still be able to travel for free at weekends and between 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays.

The £1 discounted peak morning fare will also continue for journeys starting in Blackpool or Blackburn with Darwen, as their councils provide subsidies.

Restriction concerns

More than 500 of the 10,000 disabled people in the county who hold a NoWCard responded to a consultation on the plan, which was considered by a council report to be "proportionally low".

About 80% of the respondents disagreed with removing the discounts, citing that it would "create barriers".

The free young person's travel scheme is used by an average of 139 apprentices a month, alongside 35 eligible for other reasons.

Among the 32 respondents from this group, concerns were expressed that the withdrawal of the initiative would "limit their ability to travel [and] reduce their access to opportunities".

If the schemes are removed, the disabled person's concession will disappear from 1 April, while the young people's free bus pass will be phased out until 31 July.

A decision is due to be made on Thursday.