Well, we shouldn’t be surprised. News has emerged of a £1.8 million deficit across the Fylde due to the Government’s unfunded commitment to free bus travel for pensioners. Now I’ve got no problem with ‘free’ bus travel for pensioners, it’s great that pensioners can travel about more easily, except for the fact it isn’t free at all, as it is subsidised through council tax. Because the area has such a high level of visitors, local councils are having to pay for their return travel, even though they aren’t contributing to the council tax base, creating an enormous deficit. An informal arrangement of pooling the costs with other Lancashire Councils looks to be on the rocks.
Former junior Transport Minister Rosie Winterton stood by the Government funding for this scheme: ‘We are confident that this funding is sufficient to cover the additional cost of the new concession’ (Hansard, 6 March 2008, Col. 2752W).
Well clearly she didn’t know what she was talking about!
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