Scotland Wide Free Bus Travel for Older People and People with Disabilities - Have you Registered Yet?

The Scottish Executive is introducing a new Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older people and people with disabilities.  The scheme starts on 1 April 2006 and will entitle the cardholder to free bus travel throughout Scotland at any time of the day.

The revised scheme replaces the existing local concessionary travel scheme and requires a new card to be issued to all existing cardholders.

Moray Council in partnership with other agencies and commercial outlets including Moray Voluntary Services Organisation (MVSO), Grampian Society for the Blind, Moray Companion Talking Newspaper, NHS Grampian, Asda and Tesco staged a series of roadshow events across Moray to promote the new scheme.  The Council wishes to thank everyone who attended the roadshow events throughout the month of November where a number of application forms were issued and over 4,000 forms returned for processing.

The returned application forms represent 25% of the total number of expected applicants.  With only 4 months to go before the start of the new scheme it is important that forms are returned as soon as possible.

Anyone who has returned their form will receive their card in the post during February and March next year.  New cards received during February and March will not be accepted on a bus or coach until 1 April 2006.  Current concessionary cards will be required until then.

Any questions about the use of the card or the Scotland-wide free bus scheme should be directed to any of the Council Access Points or Libraries where staff will be able to help.  Alternatively, questions can be emailed to accessmoray@moray.gov.uk and additional information can be found on the Council website at www.moray.gov.uk/accessmoray.

Contact: Joyce Pirie, Public Relations Co-ordinator on 01343 563046