On March 1st the Council decided to withdraw from the DevonWide scheme of concessionary fares (ie free travel for the over 60s and disabled people) and replace it with their own scheme (for reasons too complicated to go into here. Needless to say, ours is a better scheme, at less cost to the Council Tax payer, and retaining more bus routes).Unfortunately, this has involved inviting 30000 pensioners and people with disabilities to renew their bus passes before April 1st to continue to enjoy free travel within Torbay (and to several popular destinations nearby) and for only £1 each way to Exeter and Plymouth on direct services.The new passes include an update of eligibility and a digital photo so everyone who wants one has to turn up.From March 1st, we have obtained hardware and software (new PCs, registration kit, card printers, cameras etc etc), installed aforementioned in libraries and council offices, got library and "Connections" staff onside, loaded the pre existing database, employed dozens of agency and casual staff, designed rotas to deploy said staff and council officers and volunteers to supervise/provide break cover, train everyone to use the forms, check documents (no info taken, we arent going down that road) and use and fix the software and hardware, publicise, design and print application forms and distribute.From 9am yesterday morning, there were queues of older people snaking through the libraries and the public access council offices, 99% of whom had brought the right documents (proof of age/disability+address+old pass) and were happy (happy!) to wait up to 90 minutes to get their new passes. Much banter and chat was exchanged (chairs provided for the frail). Those that hadnt brought the correct documents (eg people with learning difficulties, older people who really didnt need to prove they were over 60: *you dont look a day over 55, dear"), on my shift, got through. Some didnt and ended up in the newspaper ("Blind man, 87, refused bus pass!") Whoever did that should learn some discretion. The weird thing was, that by 3 0'clock the queues had virtually disappeared, two days in a row. Not many people took our advice to come back later/in a week etc. I suppose it keeps them off the streets.If retirement makes people so happy, patient and stress free, I am all for it. Bring it on.
Labels: Bus Pass
posted by Lord Hutton @ 5:08 PM 7 comments links to this post
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