Users to meet Ring and Ride bosses

Controversial changes to Ring and Ride services in the Black Country will be debated tomorrow.

Under the plans, only over-85s, disabled people or war veterans will be automatically eligible to use the door-to-door buses.

Scores of pensioners are expected at a meeting at Walsall Deaf People's Centre in Lichfield Street, Walsall, tomorrow morning. Centro officials are due to appear at the summit from 10.30am.

Regular users of Ring and Ride are being asked to fill in a form and provide copies of prescriptions and other documents to prove they cannot use conventional public transport. Groups representing disabled people claim Centro intends to scale back the service to slash its budget, although bosses deny the allegation.

Today, Andy Brown, a former nurse who is a support officer for the MS Society Black Country branch, said he was concerned trips to social venues could be withdrawn.

"A lot of people don't only use the service to do shopping, they will go to bingo halls or other places to socialise as well," the 48-year-old said.

"Some people might think those trips are not what Ring and Ride was intended for but I think socialising is important to anybody's wellbeing."

Members of the MS Society were worried about the criteria changing, he added.

It comes after a group for disabled people in Dudley warned means-testing for Ring and Ride services would have a "devastating" effect.

Access in Dudley, which is made up of 20 volunteers, says many pensioners could be left housebound.

People who get benefits because of disability or are aged 85 or over would be automatically eligible to use the door-to-door bus service provided by West Midlands Special Needs Transport.

Last year Centro introduced a 60p single fare charge. The cost of providing the service in the West Midlands is £11.5 million or £7.50 per journey.

Centro spokesman Steve Swingler said: "We can assure people there is no change whatsoever about who can and cannot use Ring and Ride.

"This lifeline service has always has been specifically designed for people who find it very difficult or impossible to use conventional public transport."

It was revealed Smartcards for passengers using buses, trains and the Midland Metro could be extended to the Ring and Ride Service when they are introduced.