Nottinghamshire County Council drops plan to axe free tram passes

There are 154,000 passholders in Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire County Council has dropped a cost-cutting proposal to end free tram travel for elderly and disabled people.

The authority said it costed £900,000 a year to provide the free passes for the Nottingham network.

It had been considering potential alterations to its concessionary pass scheme but has now said there would be no changes in 2024-25.

The council ran an eight-week consultation on the proposals.

Passholders make 1.14 million tram journeys a year, the council estimates

Nearly 4,000 people responded to the consultation, with 92% in favour of keeping the current offer of free weekday tram travel for disabled, elderly and companion passholders between 09:30 and 23:00.

Neil Clarke, council cabinet member for transport, said: "We have listened to the overwhelming view that has come out of the consultation that no changes should be made to the scheme."

The new East Midlands Combined Authority, headed by an elected regional mayor, will take over responsibility for the scheme from 31 March 2025.

The council estimated 154,000 passholders make 1.14 million journeys on the tram each year.