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The scheme currently allows people over 60 or with a disability to travel by coach for up to half price.
There has been no change to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme which allows pass holders free off peak travel on local bus services throughout England.
Please see the National Express site for further details. www.nationalexpress.com/coach/Offers/Over60s.cfm
FREE travel benefits for older and disabled people eligible for NoWcard passes will continue when Lancashire County Council starts running the scheme on 1 April.
All county councils and unitary authorities are taking over administration of the nationally-agreed concessionary travel scheme from district councils following a decision by government.
County Councillor Tim Ashton, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: "Most people in Lancashire who are eligible for NoWcards will notice no difference following this change of administration it will be business as usual.
"You can start your application by phoning the county council, contacting us by email or talking face-to-face with our staff using the Tellytalk terminals available in some libraries."
NoWcards allow holders to travel for no cost on local off-peak buses anywhere in England. Free travel is available from 9.30am to 11.00pm Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.
The county council will also continue to 'top-up' the national scheme by funding a 50p flat fare during peak hours for Lancashire NoWcard holders with disabilities.
NoWcard holders will also be able to use the tram between Blackpool and Fleetwood.
However, some extra benefits currently provided on top of the current national concessionary travel scheme by district councils mostly free travel on community transport 'dial-a-ride' schemes will not be funded by the county council.
People living in different district council areas currently receive a range of 'discretionary' benefits depending on what their local council chooses to fund.
Lancashire County Council already invests around £1m to support eight dial-a-ride schemes in the county and will continue to do so. The county council will also work with each of the district councils to maintain the dial-a-ride schemes.
While the government has redirected funding for the basic free off-peak travel scheme from district councils to the county council, it has not passed on the £770,000 Lancashire districts spend on extra benefits, which means there is no money to pay for them.
Extra benefits currently paid for by district councils vary but often include free travel for users of dial-a-ride schemes which provide a door-to-door service once or twice a week for people who are eligible to join the scheme and are unable to access other public transport. Scheme members may have to pay a fare set by the operator from 1 April, subject to further discussions between the county council and district councils.
Around 5,000 people in Lancashire are currently members of community travel schemes. There are 287,000 NoWcard holders in the county.
Some district councils have also funded free membership of community car share schemes for NoWcard holders.
County Councillor Ashton added: "Free off-peak travel on local buses for older and disabled people is a nationally-agreed benefit and one that will continue with Lancashire County Council administrating the local NoWcard scheme.
"The cost to councils is calculated by the government using a formula and the money for providing the service given to councils as part of the annual grant settlement.
"But this doesn't cover the cost of some of the extra benefits currently being provided by district councils. We are continuing to discuss the issue with districts but it may mean that around 5,000 people will have to pay a fare for using community transport schemes."
Councillors today (Thursday January 6) approved plans for changes to concessionary bus travel in Cumbria .
From April 1 Cumbria County Council will take over responsibility from the district councils for administering the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) that provides people over 60 years of age - as well as those with disabilities who qualify - with a NoW card that gives free off peak travel on scheduled bus services.
This move follows a government decision to transfer concessionary travel responsibility to county councils and is being adopted all round the country.
Given that Cumbria County Council has to find major savings following a reduction in government grants, and so that there is parity across the whole county , the county council has decided to adopt the same minimum statutory provision for all concessionary travellers in all six districts .
Today Cumbria County Council's Cabinet agreed to provide free off peak travel (between 9.30am and 11pm Monday-Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays) for around 90,000 Cumbrian residents that are eligible, plus visitors to the county who are also eligible.
Cabinet also agreed to carry out a three-month review to study the level of reimbursement to transport operators. The current proposal is to reimburse them with 65 per cent of the fare, but this may have to be reduced to 60 per cent to make the scheme affordable.
Currently the district councils in Cumbria receive about £8.4million in grants from government for concessionary travel allowing Carlisle and Eden councils to provide free travel for concessionary passengers around the clock - but this figure is being reduced.
It had been estimated that Cumbria County Council would get around £7.9million in grants from government for concessionary fares, but this figure now appears to be around £7.2million , meaning there is additional pressure to find savings.
These funding pressures mean that the county council can only operate the statutory minimum service, but it will help ensure taxpayers get better value for money.
Councillor Tim Knowles, Cumbria County Council's cabinet member for passenger transport, said: "We are committed to providing off peak concessionary travel for all those eligible in Cumbria , but as a council we have to find major savings given these tough economic times and the smaller financial grant we are receiving from government
"The harsh reality is that we've been passed on the poisoned chalice of funding the concessionary travel scheme at the time we're facing the biggest public sector spending cuts since the Second World War.
"This reduction in funding means we can't provide free travel around the clock, but it does mean we'll be introducing parity across the county in that all concessionary travellers will be subject to the same terms and conditions. It will end the postcode lottery of different entitlements for different people in Cumbria , but we are talking to the district councils to see whether they want to supplement the service in their area. If they want to do so then we're happy for them to spend money on enhancements that bolster concessionary travel , but we're starting with a level playing field.
"While we're happy to have discussions with the districts regarding them enhancing concessionary travel, we as a county council simply don't have the funding available to continue subsidising on peak concessionary travel ourselves."
The age at which you can apply for a bus pass is changing, please follow link for details.
A consultation on a new distribution of £223m funding for the hugely popular free bus pass that will be fairer for councils was announced by the Department for Transport yesterday.
Following the extension of the concessionary travel scheme in April 2008 to free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England, the Government provided additional funding to councils who administer the scheme, taking the total amount spent to around £1 billion every year.
However, following concerns that some councils have received too much money, whereas others not enough, the Department for Transport is re-considering how the money is distributed.
Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said:
The free bus pass is a popular policy giving 11 million older and disabled people greater freedom and independence. Around £1 billion is now spent in total on this scheme every year with over £200 million devoted to extending it to travel anywhere in England. Ensuring this extra money is distributed fairly and to where it's needed most is critical to the continued success of the scheme.
We have listened to concerns raised by some councils about the way the grant has been allocated and also assessed last year's spending to ensure that we are getting it right. Today we are publishing a proposed revised grant distribution for 2010/11 which seeks to better match the pattern of costs being incurred.
"The changes we are proposing build on the success of the national bus concession and will not in any way affect older or disabled bus users who use the scheme. I now look forward to hearing views from authorities and hope to publish the final grant distribution early in the New Year.
In total around 200 authorities will receive more money or will be unaffected by the revised distribution. Overall the total amount of money allocated will remain unchanged.
The special grant funding is in addition to the amount Government provides each year for concessionary travel through the formula grant process which continues to be the route for the bulk of Government funding. The special grant brings total spending on concessionary travel to around £1 billion a year.
Read more http://www.lep.co.uk/travel/2m-cost-of-39free39-buses.5527510.jp
National concessionary travel scheme leaves popular destinations with bills and job losses as funding falls short. To read the full Guardian article please click the link. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jul/31/national-concessionary-travel-pensioners-cost
There has been publicity in the National press regarding the withdrawal of free bus travel for pensioners on National Express, coaches and excursion services. The Times Article is an example. The publicity has been generated as a result of the The Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) (Amendment) Order 2009, published to give a greater certainty about which services are eligible for concessions. Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) who administer concessionary travel are responsible for assessing bus services against the criteria to determine whether a service should be included within the mandatory national concession.
The introduction of the National Scheme in April 2008 allowed for free off peak travel on local bus services throughout England. This did not include free travel on coach excursions, National Express services or long distance express type services, trams or the London Underground. Some authorities offer enhancements to the National Scheme please click here for additional concessions available to NoWcard holders. Please note there has been no change to the 'Express Services' which are eligible for the National Concession in Lancashire and Cumbria, also because Preston's Park & Ride services are registered as local bus services they will continue to accept all England National Concession bus passes for off peak travel.
From 1st April onwards the Hyndburn peak concession will be withdrawn. More Information
The Nowcard helpline will be closed on the following week days over the Christmas period:
Wednesday 24 December 2008
Thursday 25 December 2008
Friday 26 December 2008
Thursday 1 January 2009
Friday 2 January 2009
Congratulating all the finalists, UK Bus Awards chairman John Owen said that the standard of entries had been “amazingly high”. He added, “Our winners today are delivering innovation and marketing, supported by top quality customer service. The result is strong passenger growth and a shift from car to bus in towns and cities all over the country.”
The partnership of Cumbria County Council, Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool Councils, in conjunction with the local bus operators, is introducing ITSO smartcards across all 1,800 buses in the partnership area.
Concessionary bus travel is the first thing the smartcard is being used for, partly to ensure the technology becomes established. The long term development will focus on the need to include all possible smartcard ticket products which could be used on-bus. These include period tickets, carnets and an electronic purse.
NoWcard is already the largest smart scheme in England to conform to the ITSO national specification with 1.7 million transactions per month.
This leading technological innovation is complemented by unparallel co-operation with bus operators, and has been welcomed by drivers and passengers alike. It's transforming the image of bus travel in the North West.
Effective 5th October 2008: Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool's disabled NoWcard holders will be eligible to a 50p flat fare concession on local bus services before 09:30 weekdays, on journeys starting or ending in Lancashire. This local concession is funded by Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Blackpool Council's and is only available to disabled NoWcard holders resident in these areas. Travel before 0930 at weekends and public holidays remains free to all NoWcard holders.
From 5th October 2008 Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool's NoWcard holders will not receive travel concessions on local bus services operating in Lancashire after 23:00 Mondays to Fridays. There are no restrictions on Saturdays Sundays and public holidays.
