Scottish Government is Roads Ahead with Free Travel but Local Commitment Needed to Protect bus Services

Scottish Government is Roads Ahead with Free Travel but Local Commitment Needed to Protect bus Services

Angela Constance MSP has welcomed new figures that show that from 2014/15, over 894 million concessionary bus trips have been made across Scotland by passengers holding a concessionary travel card, including people over 60 years old, those with a qualifying disability and young people under 22 years old. Given this progress in extending free travel to 1.5 million people across Scotland the Almond Valley MSP is calling on all local partners to work together to ensure local bus routes are maintained given the imminent reduction in bus services from the 6^th May.

 Commenting Angela Constance SNP MSP for Almond Valley said:

 “It’s good news that so many people in Almond Valley and across Scotland are entitled to concessionary travel and these figures underline the Scottish Government’s commitment to widening access to free bus travel.  

“However, this national commitment needs to be matched at a local level and the local authority and bus companies need to work together to ensure people in all our communities have access to bus services, particularly given the current unpredictable nature of bus services within Almond Valley, I will continue to call for a resolution to the reduction of bus services so that the people of Almond Valley can fully utilise their concessionary cards and have independence.”

• Latest News