MINISTER QUIZZED OVER BUS FARE SCHEME

10.16.45am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 22nd Oct 2007

At a meeting of the Regional Assembly held in Exeter today, the Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader Cllr Steve Darling asked the Government's South West Minister Ben Bradshaw MP to investigate the effects that the nationwide free bus fare scheme will have on seaside resorts such as Torbay.

Cllr Darling highlighted that the current scheme fails to take into account the age profile of seaside authorities like Torbay where more people benefit from the scheme. Local Authorities like Torbay and Bournemouth lose out financially. He asked the Minister to make sure that the nationwide scheme did not penalise areas such as Torbay when it starts next year by failing to take into account visitors using the scheme..

The Minister promised that he would look into the situation and report back to the Regional Assembly.

Councillor Darling said:

"The introduction of the nationwide bus fare scheme next year, whilst good news for those who benefit from the scheme, will have an adverse impact on the finances of local authorities such as Torbay who attract large numbers of tourists. Tourist areas will be hit harder than other areas. Government funding of the bus fare scheme must reflect that. I am pleased that Ben Bradshaw MP will report back to the Regional Assembly on this issue."