FREE FARES FOR PENSIONERS IS A CON - MARC RAMSBOTTOM

5.01.08am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 15th Apr 2005

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom, Liberal Democrat Candidate, Manchester Central Constituency

Lib Dem Councillor Marc Ramsbottom has described the Government promise of free travel for elderly and disabled people as a con, because they have not promised the extra money needed to fund the scheme. Speaking to a meeting of pensioners on Sunday he said; "Gordon Brown made a promise in his budget statement that he would provide free fares for pensioners and disabled people, but has failed to guarantee the extra money to local councils who want to introduce free travel. The scheme is a con, because unless extra money is provided, the scheme will cost council taxpayers in Greater Manchester an extra £7 million."

His remarks come after the Greater Manchester Transport bosses confirmed in a report last Friday that unless they secured extra funding from Government then they would have to increase it transport levy on district councils or cut other aspects of its budget to fund the scheme.

Cllr Ramsbottom said that he would be meeting Lib Dem councillors on the Passenger Transport Authority to ensure that extra money was secured from government to implement the scheme.

"We want to ensure that free fares are made introduced for pensioners and disabled people, and Government should provide the extra resources to help councils introduce the scheme. We will be lobbying government to make sure this happens" he said.

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For further information please contact Cllr Marc Ramsbottom on (07976) 352 513.