Petition over disabled people's bus pass cuts

Campaigners are due to hand in a petition later over a council move to reduce the scope of disabled people's bus passes.

Hampshire County Council currently allows free travel at any time of day for pass holders and helpers.

However, ruling Conservatives agreed last year to reduce the concessionary travel scheme to the legal minimum from April 2025, allowing free travel only between 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays and all day at weekends.

Campaign group Waterside Changemakers said the enhanced scheme was a lifeline, but the council said it needed the £75,000 savings.

The cuts, agreed in October 2024, also include the end of free travel for older people before 09:30 in areas with limited bus services.

Campaigners said those affected could be forced to pay up to £3.50 for each journey.

Maria Cooper from Waterside Changemakers said her 32-year-old son Paul, who has autism, would struggle to use buses without a free pass.

She said: "He won't speak to strangers and he doesn't understand the value of money.

"There are so many disabled people in our community who go to day centres and colleges where they start at 09:00.

"You don't start being disabled at 09:30."

Cat Whitehouse, from Transport for All, said: "The disabled people's bus pass was designed to give us, as disabled people, a level of equality.

"Disabled people face increased costs... and the pass eases that."

More than 1,000 people have signed a protest petition, which is due to be delivered to Hampshire County Council later.

In a statement, the council said: "The unprecedented financial challenges facing the county council have meant that we have to focus our limited resources on providing the core services that we are legally obliged to deliver.

"This has led to difficult decisions about what we can continue to afford in the future.

"We appreciate that the changes will mean some people may need to make adjustments to their travel arrangements or pay for some journeys."

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