Nottingham City Council will announce at its Executive Board meeting on Tuesday 21 February that it will continue to go above and beyond its statutory duties when it comes to helping older and disabled people who live in the city get around.
The City Council must provide concessionary travel – free bus travel for older and disabled people from 9.30am-11pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and bank holidays – under the Transport Act 2000 and the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS).
Nottingham City Council does better than that by:
- Providing free travel on the tram for older and disabled people (again 9.30am-11pm weekdays and all day weekends and bank holidays)
- Providing a companion pass, giving free travel to a carer or companion for those with certain disabilities, including those who are blind, have a severe walking disability or a severe learning disability and would have difficulty travelling alone
- Providing additional free travel on the bus or tram for disabled city residents from start of service – 9.30am.
Public transport operators are reimbursed for the loss in revenue by the City Council for every pass holder journey recorded. The City Council uses money provided by the Government to help support the cost of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme. The cost of this scheme will be determined by passenger numbers and other factors, and is likely to be around £7.381m in 2023/24.
The additional cost to deliver free tram travel and carer travel is funded by the City Council and will cost in the region of £1.075m in this financial year.
Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Transport and Parks, Councillor Audra Wynter, said: “I’m proud that here in Nottingham we go above and beyond for our older and disabled residents, providing more than other cities to help them get around Nottingham on our award-winning buses and trams.
“It’s so important for us to help older and disabled people to get around without the need to use a car and it is also critical that we continue to support sustainable travel as we work towards becoming the UK’s first carbon neutral city by 2028.”
- Older city residents can apply for a travel pass once they reach state pension age (66): https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/information-for-residents/transport-parking-and-streets/public-transport/apply-for-an-older-persons-bus-pass/
- Disabled city residents can apply for a disabled travel pass here: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/information-for-residents/transport-parking-and-streets/public-transport/apply-for-a-disabled-persons-bus-pass/