The Conservative Group at Nottinghamshire County Council are proposing the removal of the weekday 9:30am restriction on concessionary bus passes, arguing that eligible residents should be able to travel when they need to, not when the rules allow.
The motion, proposed by Conservative Councillor Cllr Andy Brown (Leake & Ruddington) and seconded by Conservative Cllr Richard Butler (Cotgrave) will ask the East Midlands Combined County Authority to use its powers to introduce free all-day bus travel for concessionary pass holders. The motion will be debated and voted upon during the next meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council on Thursday 9th July.
Currently, eligible residents can only use their concessionary bus passes free of charge from 9:30am on weekdays. The Conservatives say this restriction prevents people from travelling to early medical appointments, getting to work, volunteering, supporting family members or accessing other essential services without additional cost.
Cllr Andy Brown said: “This is a simple change that could make a real difference to thousands of people across Nottinghamshire.
“People who qualify for concessionary travel should be able to use it when they need it most. Whether it’s travelling to an early hospital appointment, volunteering in the community or helping family members, the current 9:30am restriction creates an unnecessary barrier.
“This motion is about fairness. Other combined authorities, including Greater Manchester, have already shown that it is possible to remove this restriction using local powers. We believe residents in Nottinghamshire deserve the same opportunity.”
Cllr Richard Butler said: “The current rules simply do not reflect how people live their lives. Many concessionary pass holders are still working part-time, volunteer regularly, care for loved ones or have appointments that take place before 9:30am.
“Removing this restriction would give people greater flexibility, support independent living and make it easier to stay active within their communities. It is a practical, achievable change that would benefit thousands of residents.”
If approved, the motion will ask the Mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority to identify the funding needed to remove the weekday restriction, amend the local concessionary travel scheme and implement the change as soon as possible.
The Conservatives say the proposal would bring Nottinghamshire into line with areas such as Greater Manchester, where enhanced concessionary travel has already been introduced using local transport powers.
