Enhanced free Travel Scheme
COUNCILS AND BUS COMPANIES TO CONTINUE ENHANCED FREE TRAVEL
SCHEME
IT'S all aboard for concessionary pass holders in the Tees Valley as four
local councils and bus operators have agreed to continue the local scheme,
considered as one of the best in the country.
The enhanced deal allows holders of English National Concessionary Travel
Scheme passes to travel free in the Tees Valley at any time - and not just
between 9.30am and 11.00pm on weekdays.
The current agreement between the four councils - Hartlepool,
Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton - and local bus
operators runs until the end of this month. Now, however, the local
agreement for pass holders to travel free at any time will continue for at
least a further year until 31 March 2010.
Subject to approval by each council's Cabinet, the four councils will
together pay more than £11 million to local bus operators for free travel
in 2009/10.
Speaking on behalf of the four participating councils in the Tees Valley,
for which Stockton has led the negotiations, Councillor Bob Cook said:
"The renewal of our local agreement demonstrates how our four
councils can work together with bus operators in a partnership for the
common good.
Our good relationship with the bus companies has enabled us to continue our
enhanced scheme despite the very difficult economic circumstances facing
councils and bus operators alike.
We are very pleased our successful discussions have made this scheme
possible and helped us avoid the disputes over costs and appeals to the
government encountered over concessionary travel in some other areas.
These passes are a lifeline for many people and all four councils have made
continuing them at the same level a priority, to benefit more than 100,000
users.
The local agreement only applies in the area covered by the four councils
and the national restriction will apply when boarding buses
elsewhere.
Participating bus operators are Arriva North East, Stagecoach (Hartlepool
and Teesside), Go North East, A1 Coaches, Compass Royston and Leven Valley
Coaches.
