Information on changes to Concessionary Fares from April 2008
The government has announced that concessionary bus pass holders in England will be able to travel for FREE on any scheduled local bus service operated by any bus operator throughout England (the journey must start AND finish within England). However, this does not include free travel on long distance or express coach services, or ‘special’ services such as tours or excursions.
The free concessionary bus travel applies across all of England between 9.30am and 11.00pm Monday to Friday and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. It is for each Council to decide whether to extend this to cover free travel at all times (not just the times given above). Under the new scheme, travel will be free at all times for all Suffolk residents making journeys that start in Suffolk (IBC has a reciprocal agreement with all the other Borough/District Councils in Suffolk). You should be aware that when making a journey outside of the times listed above, whether you can travel for free or not will depend on what has been decided by the Council in whose area your journey is starting, NOT by the Council who has issued you your pass. This change is as a result of a change in concessionary fares law made by the government in summer 2007.
The Council is also extending how long a pass is valid for until it expires, in order to save you from having to renew every year. Passes issued to people with surnames from A to I will last for 2 years, surnames from J to R will last for 3 years and surnames from S to Z will last for 4 years. The reason why some passes will expire earlier than others is because the Council is dividing the concessionary fares database into thirds in order to cut future renewal costs. When those passes which will be issued for 2 or 3 years come up for renewal in 2010 or 2011, it is intended that they will then be renewed for the full 4 years.
Although there is no fee for your first application or renewal of a concessionary bus pass, you should be aware that the fee for replacing a lost pass is £7.50.
National Scheme Downloadable Application Forms and Leaflet
Elderly Persons Application Form
Disabled Persons Application Form
National Scheme Information Leaflet 2008
Travel Concessions (Bus Passes and ‘Travel Vouchers’)
For further details on the above (including what categories are defined as being ‘disabled’) or to request an application form, please contact:
Concessionary Fares
Ipswich Borough Council
3rd Floor
Grafton House
15-17 Russell Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 2DE
Telephone: (01473) 432062
Email: concessionary.fares@ipswich.gov.uk
Application forms for bus passes are also available at the Ipswich Buses Enquiry Office at Tower Ramparts Bus Station, the Customer Services Centre at the Town Hall, First Eastern Counties Buses Enquiry Office at the Old Cattle Market Bus Station, the Tourist Information Centre in St Stephens Church, St Stephens Lane and the Age Concern office in Northgate Street.
Please note: There is a replacement charge of £7.50 for lost or damaged bus passes. There is no charge to replace stolen bus passes.
Travel Vouchers
What are travel vouchers?
Travel Vouchers have been introduced to provide help for those people, who are residents of the borough of Ipswich, who have a 'severe mobility impairment' and therefore find it difficult to access conventional public transport. A user who is issued with travel vouchers will be able to exchange them for travel on certain taxis, private hire vehicles and Dial-A-Ride bus services, but only with those operators who are participating in the scheme. If you are unsure whether a taxi, private hire vehicle or Dial-A-Ride operator is participating in the scheme we would suggest that you contact them before travelling. If you don't live within the Borough of Ipswich you might want to contact your local council as some are offering a similar voucher scheme.
How do travel vouchers work?
A person who qualifies for travel vouchers will be issued with a set amount of vouchers per year (£60 worth of vouchers from 1st April 2008) and an ID card to go with them. These can then be exchanged with participating operators for travel on their vehicles. The vouchers are only valid with a corresponding ID Card and are not transferable to other persons. You must supply us with one up to date colour passport sized photograph for your ID card.
A maximum amount of £20 of vouchers can be used in any one trip. The vouchers are only valid for journeys that start or finish within the County of Suffolk. A 'year' in the scheme runs from 1st April to 31st March. Applications are dealt with on a pro-rata basis, therefore any submitted after 1st July would be for £46 of vouchers, any submitted after 1st October would be for £30 of vouchers and any submitted after 1st January would be for £16 of vouchers. Vouchers have to used in the scheme year in which they were issued, any which are not used in this time become invalid and cannot be exchanged for additional vouchers in a later year. Applicants should also note that travel vouchers cannot be used on conventional public transport such as buses and trains, and cannot be used on taxis and private hire vehicles that are not participating in the scheme.
Your travel vouchers will last longer if you use them as part payment for journeys made, but you can use them to cover the full cost of a journey, provided that you comply with the other rules of the scheme mentioned herein. You should also be aware that drivers of taxis, private hire vehicles and Dial-A-Ride bus services etc are not obliged to give change for any unsed part of vouchers submitted as payment.
Do I qualify for travel vouchers? What does a 'medical referee' mean?
To qualify for vouchers issued by Ipswich Borough Council you must live within the Borough of Ipswich (within the town boundary) and you must have 'severe mobility impairment'. This is defined as:
anyone with a 'disability or injury which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on their ability to walk'. This being of 'such severity that they are unable to use conventional public transport services at any time (whether or not such services are available)'.
Important: Travel vouchers are intended only for persons who have 'severe mobility impairment' and so are therefore unable to make use of conventional public transport. Consequently anyone who is currently fit and able enough to use a 'bus pass' is deemed not to qualify for travel vouchers. it is not permitted to hold both travel vouchers and a National Travel bus pass. Additionally we require you give details of a 'medical referee' who can endorse your application; to state that you have a severe mobility impairment. The referee does not need to be your doctor but should be someone who is professionally qualified or involved in the treatment or care of your disability.
For further details on the above or to request an application form, please contact:
Travel Voucher Scheme
Ipswich Borough Council
3rd Floor
Grafton House
15-17 Russell Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 2DE
Telephone: (01473) 432062
Email: concessionary.fares@ipswich.gov.uk