Elderly and disabled people using public transport users along the Powys-Shropshire border are finding issues with their bus passes which has seen some vulnerable and pensioner passengers paying full price for both journeys.
Chirbury and Worthen Councillor Heather Kidd is working alongside Churchstoke councillor Denny Bebb to end the border concessionary "mess".
"Concessionary bus pass holders have had a real issue along the border with Wales since the pass introduction around 15 years ago," Councillor Kidd.
"People can travel into Wales to use vital services and return for free. They cannot change buses. If they need to walk or drive to Churchstoke - in Wales for some that's a matter of less than a mile - to catch a bus to Newtown to visit a dentist or for an appointment at Newtown or Welshpool hospital then their pass is not valid.
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"This is also true in the Oswestry area where people need to access services in Chester and have to change buses in Wrexham. The pensioner or vulnerable then have to pay the full price both ways.”
Councillor Kidd said "there’s never been a better time for cross-border working" after asking Churchstoke Liberal Democrat Councillor Danny Bebb to get this moving in Powys.
“Although pensioners and the disabled can travel across the border into Wales, they can only do so on certain bus services and passengers can’t change buses. Together with colleagues in Powys and the rest of Shropshire. We need to find ways to end these petty restrictions so that residents on both sides of the border can travel unhindered.
“This would both be an environmentally friendly move keeping people out of cars, save money for those facing huge hikes in costs and reduce the expensive problem of using taxis in some cases. It would also encourage the use of buses.”
Councillor Kidd has called on Shropshire Council to work urgently to put in place a local agreement with Powys where local travel in each direction may well end up being cost neutral for both authorities.
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