Babergh residents who are eligible for a bus pass will be able to enjoy free travel in Suffolk 24 hours a day, seven days a week – after Suffolk councils extended a national bus pass scheme.
At the moment, the majority of bus pass holders in England – who are 60 or over, blind or eligible disabled - are entitled to off-peak travel in the local authority area within which they live.
From April 1, 2008, the new National Free Travel Bus Pass scheme will replace this and will entitle pass holders to free off-peak travel (9.30am to 11pm Monday to Friday and all day weekends and bank holidays) on any local buses in England.
In Babergh, and across Suffolk, the district and borough councils have added to the concession and Suffolk residents bus pass will go one step further and cover bus travel at all times - 24 hours a day, seven days a week for travel in Suffolk.
This is not the case in many local authority areas where free travel will only be available in off-peak times (from 9.30am to 11pm weekdays and all day at weekends and bank holidays) for all bus pass holders.
All Babergh residents with an existing bus pass will automatically be sent a new National Free Travel Bus Pass during the week beginning March 24th, 2008.
Babergh residents who would qualify for a bus pass but do not currently have one, can apply by calling Babergh’s General Enquiries team on (01473) 826622 for an application form or download one from the website: www.babergh.gov.uk/babergh/travelcards. ENDS
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