Disappointing to lose Travel Vouchers

I think it’s a shame that Maidstone Borough Council is scrapping Transport Vouchers as part of the new national concessionary travel scheme (free bus passes for over 60s). Travel vouchers allow elderly residents to catch any form of transport to and from their place of residence, where as the new concessionary scheme is a time-limited bus pass.

People often forget the elderly who live outside of town centres and away from bus routes. They’ve had to suffer from a lack of services, post office closures, and now this.

I have spoken to residents and friends who use the vouchers to fund a taxi trip to the nearest bus-stop. These people are now dependent on family to avoid being house-bound.

Granted, the bus pass will benefit many of Maidstone’s urban dwellers. But what is the council going to do for pensioners such as Gladys Nerrit of Plains Avenue, or our large (and ever growing) population of elderly country-dwellers?