Bus service vital say OAPs
Pensioners have condemned travel bosses for failing to restore a "vital" bus service for elderly in the Black Country. Pensioners have condemned travel bosses for failing to restore a "vital" bus service for elderly in the Black Country. In November it was announced the Ring and Ride would no longer take people beyond the the borough they live in. The Wolverhampton Over 50s Forum objected, saying the move could lead to people with mobility problems becoming isolated because their family, friends and the shops they use could be within a neighbouring authority area. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
In November it was announced the Ring and Ride would no longer take people beyond the the borough they live in.
The Wolverhampton Over 50s Forum objected, saying the move could lead to people with mobility problems becoming isolated because their family, friends and the shops they use could be within a neighbouring authority area.
West Midlands Special Needs Transport (WMSNT) operates the service which allows anyone registered with a mobility problem to book a free lift.
The organisation said it was no longer able to offer the cross-boundary service because of insufficient funding from public transport body Centro.
Chief executive Barry Connor said the way Centro refunded the charity for accepting senior citizens and disabled people's passes had changed, costing them £250,000 a year.
He said it meant government funds had to be diverted away from the cross-boundary service to maintain the core business of transporting people within their own boroughs.
Centro and WMSNT have been in discussions for the last four months but have failed to find a resolution.
Bilston man Jim Speakman, from the Over 50s Forum, said: "Being able to travel between boroughs is vital for lots of elderly people. It's very disappointing that a resolution is nowhere in sight. While they negotiate, people are becoming isolated."
Mr Connor said the two organisations were in discussions about a long-term funding package. He said: "Unfortunately it doesn't include any provision for the return of cross-boundary transport. Centro are saying they never used to fund it so they don't want to start doing so now."
He said if the long-term funding was secured to guarantee the future of local services, the charity would look for alternative sources of funds to return cross-boundary transport.
