Freedom Pass fears: reassurance for Hackney residents

Following concerns that funding for the Freedom Pass may have been in jeopardy, Age Concern Hackney has been asking people to sign a petition to the Government to safeguard the Pass. However, the government has said that any changes will not in any way affect older or disabled bus users who use the scheme.

The Freedom Pass is provided by all local borough councils, including Hackney, to give older and disabled Londoners free travel on almost all public transport in London.

A spokesperson from the Department of Transport said, “The only increase in costs London faced as result of the improved England-wide concession was for the cost of non-London residents now travelling free on the London bus network – which is what we have always committed to fund.

“The changes we are proposing build on the success of the national bus concession and will not in any way affect older or disabled bus users who use the scheme.”

Last year, the Council agreed a motion resolving to oppose plans by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to increase bus fares. Read more about this here.

Following Cllr Alan Laing’s comment (below), this story was updated on Thursday 28 January.