Pensioners left out in the cold (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Pensioners left out in the cold

9:06am Thursday 25th May 2006 in Swindon

PENSIONERS are being left standing in the cold and rain after they are refused rides on empty buses because of a restriction on their free passes, it has been claimed.

Last month, pensioners were given bus passes for free travel on buses after 9.30am on weekdays.

But 75-year-old Derek Bird, from Liden, said the off-peak restriction meant elderly people were being left behind by empty buses.

He said he accepted the system was designed to stop pensioners riding for free when seats were in demand for commuters.

But he wants the pass time brought forward to 9am, when commuters are at work.

"The buses are empty by 9am," said Mr Bird, a retired sales representative.

He said he had seen elderly men and women left standing in bad weather while empty buses pulled away from stops.

The travel time was set at 9.30am by the Government, in line with peak hour in London, which lasts much longer.

Swindon Council's Cabinet member for transport, highways and strategic planning, Coun Peter Greenhalgh said the council was abiding by Government rules.

He said the council would investigate whether it was possible to allow pensioners to travel for free earlier.