FREE bus travel for East Cambridgeshire pensioners has proved such a success that the number of passes issued in just a month increased six-fold. In October, 2,056 passes were handed out compared with just 292 the year before. Pensioners have been signing
FREE bus travel for East Cambridgeshire pensioners has proved such a success that the number of passes issued in just a month increased six-fold.
In October, 2,056 passes were handed out compared with just 292 the year before.
Pensioners have been signing up after Cambridgeshire County Council brokered a deal with district and city councils and bus operators to improve on an under-funded and restrictive Government scheme, which meant bus pass holders would only benefit from free travel in their own district and would have to pay to cross council boundaries.
But the new scheme, introduced in October, saw councils pool their money to provide a free system across the county.
John Hill, chief executive for East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: "The figures support what we always thought, that people in East Cambridgeshire wanted a countywide scheme and we are glad that we have helped achieve this.
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