Community campaigners, disability rights groups, and local charities have come together to oppose planned cuts to Hampshire County Council’s Concessionary Travel Scheme. These cuts would restrict the ability for disabled and older persons’ bus pass holders to travel at key times.
The proposed cuts, coming into effect on the 1st of April 2025, include:
- Removing free travel for disabled bus pass holders before 9:30am and after 11:00pm on weekdays.
- Removing free travel for companions of disabled pass holders.
- Removing the “infrequent bus service” exemption, which allows older pass holders to travel before 9:30am in areas with limited bus services.
Campaigners argue that these changes will isolate disabled and older people, undermining their independence and wellbeing.
A petition has already gathered significant support with over 500 signatures in under a week, highlighting the widespread opposition to Hampshire County Council’s plans. The petition urges the Council to ‘Stop cuts to Hampshire’s concessionary bus pass: Keep this lifeline for disabled and older people’.
The campaigners plan to deliver the petition to Hampshire County Council ahead of a key council meeting on the 13th of April.
Maria Cooper, a member of Waterside Changemakers who launched the petition, shared how these cuts would affect her son Paul: “My son Paul has autism and uses a disability bus pass to travel to his work. Going out to work has absolutely been his lifeline. If he has to give up his job because of this, it would be so devastating for his mental health.
“Because of his autism, he can’t communicate with strangers like bus drivers and he can’t even pay the driver. Living on a low income, this will really hurt his finances too.
“There are so many disabled people in our community who go to day centres and colleges where they start at 9am, who would suffer if they can’t use their bus pass. You don’t start being disabled at 9:30.”
Patricia Clements, is registered blind, following an auto-immune disease and shared her worries: “Since being registered blind, going to the swimming pool in town has been one of the few joys I get in the world. Not only does it keep me fit but also is good for my mental wellbeing. I have photophobia which causes great pain and discomfort. I get very disoriented travelling around later in the day hence I swim early in the morning to get home by just after 10am.”
“There has been absolutely no direct communication of these changes, even though they’re going to affect so many people. The £75,000 saving is just a drop in the ocean in comparison with the savings they’re trying to make and the distress it will cause the disabled community at large. If I can’t get out of the house in a time that meets my health needs, I’m just going to end up needing more support and social care which is more expensive in the long run.”
Local charities have also urged the Council to re-think. Tom Wardle, Citizens Advice New Forest’s Campaigns Manager commented: “Hampshire’s bus pass enhancements have been hugely beneficial for disabled people and elderly people, improving mental health, independence, finances, and empowering people to participate actively in their communities. The scheme has helped many elderly people to get out of the house too, which is particularly important in a county as rural as Hampshire.”
“As a charity sector, we are writing to Hampshire County Council, urging them to re-consider whether the changes are worth the small financial saving. The proposals risk undoing the excellent progress and are likely to increase the long-term costs of supporting vulnerable people both for Hampshire County Council and its voluntary sector.”
Chris Dixon, CEO of OpenSight, an organisation supporting blind and visually impaired people, said: “While we recognise the importance of reviewing transport provisions, these changes could create significant challenges for individuals living with vision impairments (VI), many of whom already encounter obstacles to independent travel. Currently, fewer than 25% of adults with VI are employed, and access to reliable, flexible public transport is crucial for supporting their participation in work, education, and social activities. Additionally, many of our service users are on low incomes, which may affect their ability to carry out these activities if they now need to pay to travel before 9:30 am. I urge the council to reconsider this decision.”
Cat Whitehouse, from Transport for All, a disabled-led transport group supported the campaign, adding: “The disabled people’s bus pass was designed to give us, as disabled people, a level of equality. Disabled people face increased costs for accessibility equipment, medicines, heating, food and more, and the pass eases that. Limiting and cutting disabled people’s bus passes will harm disabled people in Hampshire, limiting travel to work and education, and reducing our opportunities at a time when the government is encouraging more disabled people to try and find work – it’s counterproductive.”
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