Devon County Council

From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, November 22, 2007

RELEASE ON BEHALF OF THE DEVONWIDE PARTNERSHIP

THE Devonwide partnership is urging the over 60s and those with disabilities to apply now for their free national bus pass ahead of its introduction next April.

All 105,000 people who hold a free off-peak bus pass through Devonwide will receive a letter in the next few days informing them that Devonwide will be replaced by the new national travel scheme on 1 April 2008 and giving them the opportunity to apply for the new pass.

The new scheme will provide free off-peak travel on all local bus services throughout England between 09:30 and 23:00 on weekdays and anytime on Saturdays, Sundays and public bank holidays.

Current Devonwide pass-holders will be eligible for a national bus pass, but those who don't have one will also be eligible through Devonwide if they live in the council areas of either Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge or West Devon, and if they are either aged 60 or over or are disabled.

Lesley Halton, Chair of Devonwide, said: "The new national concessionary bus fare pass will allow eligible residents to travel for free on local bus services across England. We hope you will want to take advantage of this new benefit and we would like to encourage you to respond quickly to this letter so that we can ensure you receive the new pass in good time for the new scheme which will start next April."

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "The national pass offers a new concession so that it is valid on registered bus services throughout England. For the first time, pass-holders will be able to use the pass in other parts of the country if they are there on holiday."

The scheme will be run locally by district councils with Devon County Council managing the administration for seven of the Devon district councils. Devonwide pass-holders applying for the national pass must check their details are correct on the form that will be sent with the letter. They must also include a passport photo of themselves as the pass will be a credit card style smartcard with a digitized photo of the pass-holder on it, and sign the form before returning it in the envelope provided.

The national pass will be issued free of charge, but it will not permit concessions for companions and will not be valid for concessions on trains or other forms of public transport. Pass-holders travelling before 09:30 and after 23:00 on Mondays to Fridays will be charged the commercial fares set by the bus operator.

Anyone who has a query about the Devonwide scheme or the new national scheme should call 01392 382900.

Residents in East Devon and Torbay are not included in the Devonwide scheme, and should call 01395 571500 for details in East Devon and 01803 207766 in Torbay.

Notes for Editors:

Lesley Halton 01822 813642.

Councillor Margaret Rogers 01297 680384.

For more information about Devonwide and the change to the national scheme visit the website at: http://devonwide.devon.gov.uk

Or the Department for Transport website on:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary/answerstofaq/?