DISABLED bus pass user Scott Coleman is furious he will no longer be able to get to work using his pass when changes come into force on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Scout leader, of Eastleigh Road, Devizes, had brain surgery in 2012 to help control his epilepsy seizures and, as he is considered disabled, qualifies for a concessionary bus pass.

But as Mr Coleman has to be at his job in Trowbridge Hospital by 8am, under the new rules relating to bus passes for the disabled and pensioners, he won’t be able to use his pass until after 9.30am on weekdays and will have to pay the full fare of £3.40 a day.

The admin assistant in the Trowbridge integrated community team said: “I just want to work like any normal person and I feel this is an impulsive move by the council.

“I can pay the morning fare but at the same time find it rather unfair that something is being removed, through no fault of my own.

“Could the council not separate the passes, as they are micro chipped, and let the ones of us trying to get on with their lives, like myself who works and puts a lot of voluntary time into the community, carry on with the benefits of the scheme.”

The changes are part of a cost cutting measure by Wiltshire Council to save an estimated £197,000 a year but Mr Coleman doesn’t agree.

He said: “Surely removing the scheme from the morning isn't going to save the council any money, because the eager OAP shoppers will just catch a later bus where they can use their passes.

“All it is doing is stopping people like me and many others who also have a form of disability from getting on with our day to day lives, or trying to.

“I am not using it to go shopping; my bus is practically empty so I’m not taking up space.”

Mr Coleman has written to Claire Perry MP about the situation who has now passed the matter onto Wiltshire Councillor Horace Prickett.

In her reply to Mr Coleman Ms Perry said: “I do appreciate how this proposed amendment to the timings would cause huge problems for those getting to work, that everyone affected must be very worried about the proposal.”

Exceptions to the new ruling have been made but these are on rural services where the following buses are a lot later in the day.

A list of the exceptions where passes can be used before 9.30am has been published on the Wiltshire Council website at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/parkingtransportandstreets/publictransport/buspasses

Since Mr Coleman first raising the issue, it is now being discussed and investigated by Wiltshire Council with a decision expected in the near future.