Pensioners back petition over future of free bus passes
Pro-active pensioners have launched a national campaign asking for all parties to pledge they will keep free bus passes for older and disabled people.
Walsall Pensioners’ Convention spearheaded an identical campaign, titled Love the Bus Pass in the run-up to the 2015 General Election.
It collected just over 200,000 pen-on-paper signatures from every corner of England and delivered these to 10 Downing Street.
The group have again launched a campaign, this time called Keep the Free Bus Pass and will be looking to get as many signatures as possible before the June vote.
David Cameron’s Conservatives and the other major parties did make the commitment to keep the England bus pass for the lifetime of the Parliament elected two years ago and an electronic petition has just been launched by the branch with the support of their parent organisation.
Councillor Richard Worrall, who delivered the petitions to Parliament last time, said: “Time is obviously very short, hence the decision to go electronic.
“We don’t expect to achieve 200,000 on this occasion, but we do need a clear signal to parties this is a wonderful social provision that benefits us all in its present form.”
Andrea Stanton, chairman of Walsall Pensioners Convention, said: “We know from the hundreds of letters and messages we received from all over the country in the 2015 campaign that the scheme, now in its 10th year, is seen by many as a Godsend and an absolute lifeline.
To sign visit you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/keep-the-free-bus-pass
