Concessionary travel

English National Concessionary Travel Scheme

Herefordshire residents who have reached the qualifying age and many disabled people (for details see below) are entitled to an English National Concessionary Bus Travel Pass. This pass allows:

• Free local bus* travel at all times on any journey that starts or finishes in Herefordshire
• Free local bus* travel anywhere else in England between the hours of 09.30 and 23.00 on Mondays to Fridays and at all times on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
• Free local bus* travel between Herefordshire and places in Wales, provided that each bus journey starts or finishes in Herefordshire, or is between Presteigne and Knighton in Powys.

There is no charge for the pass, but a fee of £5 is payable to replace lost or stolen passes.

* "Local buses" are those which run to a published timetable, observe all bus stops on their line of route and on which passengers pay fares to the driver. Coach tours, excursions, school contract buses and National Express-type long distance services are NOT "local buses" and are excluded. National Express, however, offers half-fares on most journeys to people over 60 as part of its RouteSixty ticket scheme.

Please also note that this is an ENGLISH national scheme and does not cover journeys that are wholly in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Applications from Older People

The qualifying age for the scheme is being raised gradually from 60 to 65 in line with changes to the state pension age. The following table shows when you become eligible for a pass and when you may apply.

* You may, of course, apply at any time after these dates.

The qualifying age will continue to increase by two months per month until 2020, when it will be the 65th birthday. It will then continue to increase in line with changes to the state pension age.

Applications from older people should be made in person at one of the Council's Info Shops or Centres at

• Cruxwell Street, Bromyard
• Hereford Centre, Garrick House, Widemarsh Street, Hereford
• 64, Bridge Street, Kington
• St. Katherine's, Ledbury
• Corn Square, Leominster
• Swan House, Edde Cross Street, Ross-on-Wye

For details of opening times see the Info in Herefordshire page

Please bring proof of your age and address and a passport-sized colour photograph. When your application has been verified a bus pass will be ordered and will be posted to you. In order to allow time for this process you may apply up to one month before your 60th birthday.

Applications from Disabled People

Applications are also invited from the following people who should also apply at one of the Council Info Shops listed above, taking with them a passport-sized colour photograph and documentary evidence* of their disability: These applications can be made at any time.

• People who are registered as blind or partially sighted, or whose eyesight means that they are eligible to be registered.
• People who receive the disability living allowance with the higher-rate mobility component (help in getting around)

* "Documentary evidence" means a Certificate of Registration as a blind or partially-sighted person OR a letter from your doctor or optician confirming that your eyesight is such that you could be registered, or a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showing how your Disability Living Allowance is calculated.

If you apply under one of the following criteria we will need to consult your doctor:

• You are "profoundly" or "severely" deaf
• You are without speech
• You have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to walk.
• You have a learning disability - a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence or social functioning.
• You would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds (physical fitness) other than because of misuse of alcohol or drugs.

We will deal with these applications by post. You can request an application form or a copy of the explanatory leaflet "England's 2008 bus concession explained" from the following email link public.transport@herefordshire.gov.uk. Please include your full name and postal address when you do so. Please note that applications for passes made on grounds of age cannot be dealt with by post.

Companion Travel

If you qualify for a concessionary bus travel pass (due to your age or a disability) but cannot use buses without help from another person you may be eligible for a pass that allows someone to travel with you. Companion Passes are automatically available to anyone who is in receipt of either the Higher-Rate Attendance Allowance OR the Disability Living Allowance with the mobility component and the care component both paid at the higher rate. If you do not qualify automatically you may still be eligible, but we will need confirmation from your doctor that you are unable to travel independently.

The companion does not have to be the same person every time.

In all cases you should tick the "companion pass required" box on the application form and produce a copy of a letter confirming receipt of the relevant allowance unless we will need to approach your doctor.

Please note that the companion entitlement is provided by Herefordshire Council and is not part of the national scheme. Unfortunately, your companion will only be able to travel free of charge on journeys that start or finishes in Herefordshire. Your pass, however, will allow YOU to have free, off-peak, local bus travel throughout England.

For more information on the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme please see the leaflet "Concessionary Bus Travel in Herefordshire and the rest of England" in the Resources box below.

Passes issued by other English councils

Concessionary bus passes issued by other local authorities in England can be used for journeys starting in Herefordshire after 09.30 on Mondays to Fridays and at any time at weekends and bank holidays. They can be used after 23.00hrs every day. All English passes that include companion travel are accepted for journeys by the holder and a companion in Herefordshire at the times stated above. Passes (including companion passes) issued by Malvern Hills District Council and Shropshire Council can be used for cross-boundary journeys between those areas and Herefordshire at all times. Only passes issued by Herefordshire council and Welsh local authorities are valid for journeys across the Welsh border.

Legal basis of scheme

The document that forms the legal basis of the Council's concessionary travel scheme was published on 30 November 2008 and the required notice is therefore given under section 150 (1) of the Transport Act 2000. Copies of the document may be inspected at the Council's office at Plough Lane, Hereford and can also be downloaded from the Resources box below. They are also available by post from the Public Transport Manager at the address below.

Lost Bus Passes

If you lose your bus pass you can report it to any Council Info Shop or Info Centre (listed above) or by writing to: Concessionary Travel, Herefordshire Council, PO Box 236, HEREFORD HR4 0WZ. There is a charge of £5 for a replacement pass which is payable at the time the loss is reported. This charge can be made in cash or cheque at any Info Shop or Info Centre or by cheque only if reporting by post. Cheques should be made payable to "Herefordshire Council". Please note that once a replacement pass has been ordered the original pass will be cancelled and therefore the fee cannot be refunded even if the original pass is subsequently found.

Old "Herefordshire" concessionary bus travel scheme

Bus passes issued under the old Herefordshire concessionary bus travel scheme are no longer valid, despite any later date which may be shown on the pass. If you hold a Herefordshire bus pass and have not yet applied for an English national pass you should do so as soon as possible.

Travelling by Train

Herefordshire Council can supply a Senior Railcard to Herefordshire residents aged 60 or over. The card gives a 1/3rd discount on most rail tickets for one year and is available at a price of £21 giving at least a 15% discount on the station price (currently £26). Apply in person to Council's Info Shops at Hereford (Garrick House,) Bromyard (Rowberry Street), Kington (Mill Street), Leominster (Corn Square), Ledbury (St. Katherine's) and Ross-on-Wye (Swan House). Persons intending to obtain a Railcard should take with them proof of their age and address. The price of a railcard from the council is subject to change without notice as it depends on the price from  which railcards can be obtained from the railway authorities.

The Disabled Person's Railcard gives a similar level of saving, which in this case also applies to another person accompanying the passholder. Unfortunately, the Council is unable to supply these railcards, but full details and an application form can be obtained from:

Disabled Person's Railcard Office, PO Box 163, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE12 8WX

More information is also available:

• by telephone on 0845 605 0525
• by textphone on 0845 601 0132
• at http://www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk/
• by email at disability@atoc.org

Public Transport Manager, Planning & Transportation
Herefordshire Council
PO Box 236, Plough Lane
HEREFORD
HR4 0WZ
Tel: (01432) 260211

Resources

Concessionary Bus Travel in Herefordshire and the rest of England

Explanatory leaflet 1st April 2010

Adobe PDF

185 kb

Concessionary Travel Scheme from 1st April 2009

MS Word

156 kb

If you need help to understand a document, or would like it in another format or language, please call 01432 260500 or email info@herefordshire.gov.uk

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