Petition - Stop cuts to Hampshire's concessionary bus pass: Keep this lifeline for disabled and older people

Thank you for your petition, received by Hampshire County Council on 13 February 2025.

Whilst we understand your concerns and the concerns of those that signed the above petition, the decision to remove the Hampshire funded enhancements to the statutory English National Concessionary Travel (ENCT) scheme has been taken due to the current financial situation facing the Council. The decision to reduce non-statutory spend across a variety of service areas was taken by the Cabinet to help towards balancing our budgets and is primarily due to funding pressures resulting from high demand for essential services such as social care for vulnerable adults and children.

It was initially proposed to remove all Hampshire core funding for local bus services, which may have left bus pass holders without bus services on which to make journeys. The amended proposal, considering consultation responses, has retained many supported local bus services enabling bus users to continue to travel. Disabled bus pass holders will still be able to travel for free in Hampshire and throughout England between 9.30am and 11pm Monday to Friday; and all day on weekends and Bank Holidays.

A companion can travel with a disabled bus pass holder, but they will be required to pay for their journeys. The Department for Transport (DfT) has previously indicated, under the former Government, that they would review the statutory minimum offer for the ENCT as set out in legislation. If all-day weekday travel for disabled bus holders, or a Disabled plus Companion bus pass, was introduced to the statutory scheme, the Hampshire Concessionary Travel Scheme would be amended to reflect this. We would welcome this expansion of the national scheme alongside adequate Government funding to provide it.

At our Full Council budget-setting meeting last month, Cllr Nick Adams-King, the Leader, promised to look at this again carefully. He did, however, point out that many other councils removed these enhancements some time ago. We are continuing to look at how we can holistically improve public transport, however we are restrained by unprecedented financial challenges facing the County Council and the funding sources available.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Kirsty North
Executive Lead Member for Universal Services