Last month, the Isle of Wight council announced bus pass concessions on the floating bridge would cease to be accepted from 1st June.
The decision was made by Full Council in February.
The council had stated,
“Bus pass holders that have previously travelled free of charge will now not receive any concession to travel.”
As well as providing free travel for those who have reached retirement age, concessionary bus passes are also held by those with physical disabilities.
Concern from disabled card-holders
This caused immediate concern for many disabled residents in Cowes and East Cowes who rely on free passage over the floating bridge.
One concerned OnTheWight reader from East Cowes got in touch to ask for help in pursuing the issue with the Isle of Wight council (IWC).
A change in policy
After several back and forths with the council, it was finally confirmed the policy would be changed to ensure disabled users with a valid the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme card would be offered free travel.
An IWC officer confirmed,
Officers have discussed the matter further and we have now agreed that from 1st June we will allow free travel for any disabled users (residents and visitors) that have an English National Concessionary Travel Scheme card; under this scheme a disabled person is as defined in section 146 of the Transport Act 2000, being any person who:
- Is blind or partially sighted
- Is profoundly or severely deaf
- Is without speech
- Has a disability, or who have suffered injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to walk
- Does not have arms or has long-term loss of use of both arms
- Has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
- Would, if they applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988; have their application refused pursuant to section 92 of that Act otherwise on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs and alcohol
Victory for disabled passengers
The resident who raised this issue on behalf of disabled passengers told OnTheWight,
“I’m really pleased the Isle of Wight council accept their original plan would have had an adverse effect on those unable to take a bus to Cowes due to wheelchair, incontinence problems and reduced sitting ability. They can now freely gain access to Cowes, maintaining their quality of life.”
The council have also confirmed that residents in possession of Islander Cards – issued to Isle of Wight residents with severe and enduring mental health problems – will also able to travel as foot passengers free of charge.
Image: © With kind permission of Allan Marsh
