Plans to stop elderly and disabled people in Wiltshire using their bus passes for peak-time morning journeys have angered Devizes Town Council.

Committee members voted to object to the proposal by Wiltshire Council to change its concessionary bus fares from next year. It is holding consultations over whether permits should start at 9am or 9.30am.

But town councillors were worried that this would discriminate against disabled people who used their passes to get to work and elderly people who travel by bus to reach their hospital appointments.

At the community and civic resources committee meeting, Coun Nigel Carter said: “The elderly have to go out of Devizes for hospital appointments in Bath and Swindon and they would not be able to get to appointments on time if the change is made.”

He was backed by Coun Ian Hopkins, who was worried about the extra expense for disabled people who used the bus to get to work, and Coun Geoff Brewer, who accused Wiltshire Council of backing out of its responsibilities.

Coun Andy Johnson, who is not on the committee, said after the meeting: “There is no option in the consultation for no change, it is just a question of people having to say if the pass should start at 9am or 9.30am. I think this is wrong.”

John Thomson, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport, said: “We will continue to fund free travel for the elderly and disabled but we want people to tell us when they use the free transport and what options would work best for them so we can make savings while ensuring people can enjoy the free travel and go about their business.”

The council said bus passes cost it £4.6 million a year and the change could save up to £300,000.

The consultation can be found at http://bit.ly/1s MS2ZN and will run until September 26.