Disabled people to get free bus passes

Wednesday 24 February 2016

Disabled Islanders will get a free bus pass after States Members unanimously gave their backing to the move.

Yesterday, Deputy Montfort Tadier brought a debate to the Assembly, asking the Infrastructure Minister, "...to agree that individuals below pensionable age with a disability which prevents them from being able to drive should be entitled to a concessionary bus pass."

The Minister, Deputy Eddie Noel, had previously warned of the cost of providing free passes - thought to be around £500,000 a year - but he and the Council of Ministers dropped their opposition to Deputy Tadier's proposal.

It was a rare day of backbencher success in the Assembly after the People's Park was saved from development and the Planning Minister reversed a decision to hike fees after accepting a proposition by Deputy Scott Wickenden.

Speaking after the bus pass debate, which was won by 43 votes to none, Deputy Tadier said: "I'm pleased that the Council has seen sense. The Minister will now go away and work out how he is going to fund the passes but we all know it was the right thing do to."

Watching from the public gallery, Vikki Militis - who cannot drive because of epilepsy - said that she welcomed the move but cautioned that it was just a step in the right direction.

"There are many improvements still to be made and I look forward to when the States introduce an overall disability strategy to give everyone a clear way forward," she said.