Free bus pass rolled out
Cheshire East Council's Cabinet has voted in favour of free flexible transport for holders of concessionary bus passes across the whole borough, removing previous disparities between different districts.
From now on concessionary bus pass holders can access dial-a-ride services in Crewe, Nantwich, Congleton and the southern rural outskirts. The decision was approved after it emerged that people in the north of the borough were able to use their concessionary pass on the service but those in the south had to pay. The disparity arose following the collapse of East Cheshire Community Transport, who ran dial-a-ride in the south, and Cheshire East Council's subsequent move to resurrect the service as soon as possible.
Cllr Michael Jones, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: "It was obvious that this was grossly unfair to the people in the south and if not rectified, would have created a postcode lottery whereby people are treated differently merely by accident of where they lived in the borough. Everyone should be treated equally which is why my Cabinet voted in favour of rectifying this anomaly."
