Free Reading buses for elderly set to start earlier

Free bus services for pensioners currently start from 09:30 on weekdays

Elderly bus passengers in Reading will be allowed to travel for free on local services half an hour earlier, after councillors approved changes.

On Monday Reading Borough Council's cabinet agreed to introduce free services from 09:00 on weekdays.

Currently free bus travel for people of pensionable age starts from 09:30 on weekdays.

The changes would be funded from income collected from bus lane fines and are due to start in the autumn.

The extra half an hour's free travel is expected to cost between £29,000 and £46,000 per year but would bring Reading into line with neighbouring Wokingham and West Berkshire councils.

Reading Borough Council will write to all residents to advise them of the change and proposed start date.