Something very important – and positive – that I believe deserves particular mention is the recent announcement that Andy Burnham’s Government will be providing unlimited free bus travel any time anywhere in the country for disabled people.
Disabled people across England can soon travel on buses for free all day, every day, anywhere, with all time restrictions on concessionary passes being lifted from April. This is part of the Government’s wider commitment to better, affordable, reliable buses, including the £2 bus fare cap.
Over 11,000 eligible disabled people in West Sussex, many who will live locally, will get free bus travel all day, every day, all over the country after the Prime Minister recently announced that the government will lift time restrictions on concessionary passes.
This extra support will help to open up access to workplaces, education, training and healthcare as well as giving people breathing space on the cost of living.
Currently, disabled bus passes are only valid for travel between 9.30am and 11pm during weekdays, unless local authorities choose to fund an extension. While West Sussex does this, this only relates to travel within the county, which for areas like Crawley that sit right on the edge of the county, means that they are restricted to off-peak journeys to and from locations in Surrey, or other surrounding areas like Brighton or East Sussex, or indeed anywhere outside of West Sussex.
Buses are a lifeline for so many people, so I believe this is welcome news for disabled people in Crawley and indeed the whole of West Sussex, where people have to frequently deal with covering long distances.
This means all over the country, all day, every day, disabled people will be able to travel for free and not have to worry about where the local government boundaries are drawn in order to get to their destinations on time. Andy Burnham’s new government is doing absolutely everything it can to help local people with the cost of living – and I anticipate from what is being said that there’s more to come in the months ahead.
A lack of affordable transport can be a major practical barrier to entering the workplace, and so this move will also help support disabled people who are able to work to take up jobs by removing an extra pressure.
This new support also comes alongside the government’s ongoing work to reform the welfare system, so people can get into work where they can. This includes a £3.5 billion investment in tailored employment support to help disabled people and people with health conditions to fulfil their full potential and stay in or return to work.
Cllr Michael Jones
Leader, Crawley Borough Council