Mark Calls for Return of Travel Tokens

Mark Oaten has called on Winchester City Council to reintroduce the popular travel token scheme for elderly and disabled residents.

The travel tokens scheme, which was replaced by free bus passes in April 2006, allowed users to buy tokens, valued at around £20, for use on any form of public transport as well as taxis and dial-a-ride minibuses.

For people living in rural areas without regular bus services, and for those unable to use the buses as a result of disability, the scheme provided limited but very useful concessionary fares.    

Winchester City Council’s new free bus pass scheme for the elderly and disabled has allowed many Winchester residents to take advantage of free bus travel, however some elderly and disabled people living in rural areas have been left very isolated by the withdrawal of the tokens.

Local campaigners have been dismayed by the response of the City Council, who have ruled out the reintroduction of travel tokens on the grounds of cost.  This is despite Eastleigh, Fareham and Portsmouth all providing travel tokens, valued at between £30 and £37 a year, alongside their free bus pass schemes.    

Commenting, Mark said,

“Providing the elderly and disabled with free bus passes is obviously a welcome measure.

“However to simultaneously withdraw the travel tokens system seems nonsensical.

“Surely these schemes can be used together, as they are in Portsmouth, Eastleigh and Fareham, where travel tokens are provided despite being mainly urban areas, to bring cheap public transport facilities to the elderly and disabled wherever they live.

“Winchester has a substantial rural elderly population, many of whom are isolated without the travel token scheme.

“I urge Winchester City Council to bring back travel tokens and to use them alongside free bus passes for the elderly and disabled.  If this step is not taken there is a real risk that many will lose their mobility and quality of life.” 

ENDS