NEARLY everyone has now received their free bus pass, says a transport chief.
Since April 1 all over-60s, blind and disabled people have been entitled to free bus travel in England as long as they apply for a pass.
Dave Pearson, of West Yorkshire Metro, said yesterday that the vast majority of people who had asked for a pass had now received one.
He added: “Probably more than 75% of people got their passes before April 1. We’re now dealing with the last 1% or 2% of people who don’t have a pass.”
Mr Pearson said there had been some problems. He said: “We’ve had difficulties with contractors, but we’ve done everything we can to get cards out.”
And he thinks West Yorkshire Metro is managing the scheme better than other regional travel authorities.
He said: “A lot of people here got their applications in before Christmas and compared with other areas we’ve seen the benefits of getting applications in early.”
Mr Pearson was speaking at the Kirklees Passenger Consultative Committee at Dewsbury Town Hall.
But two public members of the committee said they had problems with the new system.
Christopher Taylor is still waiting for his pass. He said: “It’s quite poor that a large number of people didn’t receive a card by April 1.”
And Donald Burslam got a pass, but with his name spelled wrongly.
