Lawrie joins fight to save pensioners' free bus passes (From Daily Echo)

Lawrie joins fight to save pensioners' free bus passes

7:12am Wednesday 18th October 2006

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THE fight to save free countywide bus travel for Hampshire's pensioners has been backed by Saints hero Lawrie McMenemy.

The FA Cup-winning manager, who is president of Age Concern Hampshire, was the first to sign the Daily Echo petition urging the government to reject a legal challenge threatening bus passes.

The cost of living is going up all the time and pensions have not been keeping in line for a long time, so to take away something you can definitely rely on is something that can't be allowed.

Lawrie McMenemy

He was joined by hundreds of senior citizens who are outraged at the prospect of losing any of their rights to free transport.

Bus operators are concerned they are not receiving enough cash from the scheme, run by 11 of the county's local authorities, offering unlimited bus travel for over-60s anywhere in Hampshire.

They have lodged an appeal with the Department for Transport, which if successful, would drive up the costs for councils, meaning they might have to cut the services.

Speaking at Age Concern Hampshire's annual conference in Winchester, Mr McMenemy said he was horrified at the prospect of a withdrawal of the county travel scheme.

He said: "The cost of living is going up all the time and pensions have not been keeping in line for a long time, so to take away something you can definitely rely on is something that can't be allowed.

"Free bus passes for pensioners have always been important, and more so nowadays when the majority of pensioners are wondering, as they finish their working life, how they are going to live day-to-day, never mind how they are going to pay extra for something that is considered a right."

Mr McMenemy, a Saints director, urged the operators complaining about the scheme to think again.

"I think the bus companies should have a good look at themselves - I don't know any bus companies that aren't making a profit," said Mr McMenemy.

His words were echoed by fellow delegates, who were quick to back our campaign.

Elizabeth King, of Hubert Road, Winchester, feels the bus operators are jeopardising pensioners' way of life unnecessarily. "Shame on them. They've got to run the buses anyway - do they want to run them empty or do they want to help the pensioners?" said the 75-year-old.

"It'll be absolutely abysmal if it's withdrawn. The gas and electricity bills keep going up and the savings I make from it help balance the books."

Also signing the petition, which will be available again in tomorrow's Daily Echo, was 80-year-old Edith Randall, of Salisbury Road, Totton, who said the buses provide an essential social service for many pensioners.

"I think the service is absolutely vital to help elderly people move round," she said.

"For some older people the bus is quite a social thing because they meet people on the bus, and people need to get out and about.

"There are a lot of facilities for people these days, but people need to be able to get there."

Joan Moore urged others to sign the petition, saying it was important to make a stand for what is right.

"We've got quite a good deal, but it will go if we don't fight for it," said the 68-year-old, of Worthy Road, Winchester.

"If we lose it, it will limit people's lives considerably, and there's the environmental issue as well because it is reducing the number of cars."

You can download a copy of our petition online at www.dailyecho.co.uk. Send completed forms to Jon Reeve, Southern Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton SO16 9JX.

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