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Concessionary Travel Permits Bus Passes

What is the new National Bus Concession?
From 1st April 2008, the New National Bus Concession will enable users to get off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England.

Frequently asked questions

Scheme Leaflets
The current travel scheme leaflets provide full details regarding the scheme - 'Guide fo r the over 60s' and 'Guide for the eligible disabled' copies are available from the Town Hall, Kempston Town Council, local libraries, agencies such as The Guild House, Age Concern Bedfordshire, Disability Resource Centre, Sight Concern Bedfordshire and Bedford Rural Communities Charity (BRCC).

Who is eligible for the concession?

You are entitled to a travel pass if you are a permanent resident in the Bedford Borough area and are aged 60 or have an eligible disability (under the Transport Act 2000).

The onus is always on the applicant to prove their entitlement for a concessionary travel pass.

What does the pass allow?
The pass entitles you to free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England.

When exactly is off-peak travel?
Off-peak hours are 9.30am until 11pm Monday – Friday, and all day weekends and bank holidays.

What is a ‘local’ bus?
There is a legal definition, but in everyday terms we mean the bus services used by the general public running in towns and cities or linking nearby towns with one another or running between towns and the villages around them. Community bus services like the Access Bus, Flittabus, Ivel Sprinter, Road Runner, Villager and Whitbread Wanderbus are included. Some longer distance bus and coach services are also included. If in doubt, check with the operator of the service or, for services in and around Bedfordshire, the local authority that issued your pass.

Will I be able to enjoy free travel everywhere within the UK?
No, the concession will only apply within England.

If I visit an area that offers additional services, will I be entitled to them?
Probably not. As a general rule, local authorities will only provide additional services for their own residents. Some authorities, however, may provide them – check with the relevant authority in the area to which you intend to travel.

I don’t live in London, but I visit relatives there occasionally. Will I be able to enjoy the same benefits as a freedom pass holder if I travel there?
No. Because those benefits are paid for by the London authorities, only London Freedom Pass holders will be able to enjoy additional local travel on the tube, trains and trams. You will, however, be able to enjoy the statutory national concession of free off-peak bus travel when visiting the capital.

What does the pass look like?

Image of travel pass over 60s - DOWNLOAD
Image of travel pass disabled - DOWNLOAD

What time-restrictions are there on the buses?
None when you are travelling wholly within the Bedford Borough area - if you are boarding a bus at peak times i.e. before 9.30am Monday to Friday you can use your pass on local bus journeys that start and finish within Bedford Borough Council's administrative area. You will not be allowed to use your permit if you board a local bus before 9.30am Monday to Friday to a fare stage beyond Bedford Borough Council's administrative area i.e. you will have to pay the full fare.

What buses in the Bedford Borough area is my travel pass valid on?
A list of bus companies that operate routes within the Bedford Borough administrative area is available to down-load or alternatively can be viewed in the travel scheme leaflet.

When are the passes due to be dispatched?
We have been informed that passes and explanatory leaflets should be dispatched direct from the manuufacturer to all residents who provided a passport sized photograph as requested. The majority of passes were dispatched direct from the manufacturer on 26th March, though we have been advised that it has taken longer for some batches to be dispatched.

What happens if I have not received my new pass?
Do not worry, arrangements have been made for you to continue to use your existing yellow permit (that shows an expiry date of 31 March 2007) until 30 September 2008. You will however need to ensure that you made an application for a new pass.

You can continue to use your yellow permit until 30 September 2008 on:
Local bus journeys within the Bedford Borough Council administrative area at any time
Local bus journeys in Mid Beds, South Beds and Luton during off-peak hours (Monday to Friday 9:30am - 11:00pm and any time at weekends and bank holidays)

How do I obtain a travel pass?
You will need to complete an application form and send it to Bedford Borough Council with the necessary documents to prove your entitlement and residency. The passes will be produced by an external manufacturer and will usually be posted direct to your home address, there is currently a waiting period due to the increase in demand for passes throughout England at this time.

You can pick up an application form from the Town Hall Main Reception, Kempston Town Hall or request one by post; due to technical difficulties the form cannot currently be downloaded from this site.

REMEMBER - You are only eligible for free travel if you have a valid travel pass.
If you do not have a pass, you will have to pay the full fare (even if you have made an application and are waiting for your pass to be posted to you).

What documents do I need to provide to prove my entitlement to a pass?
You will need to provide proof that you are a permanent resident of Bedford Borough and that you are aged 60 or over or have an eligible disability. Proofs should be recent and show your full name and address, they can be either original documents or photocopies. The types of documents that can be accepted are subject to change from time to time; please see the current application form for details.

As at 14 April 2008, the following documents can be accepted as
Proof of age:
Birth certificate
Passport
Driving License
Pension Letter

Proof of address:
State retirement pension letter
Utility bill (less than 4 months old) e.g. Gas, electric or telephone
Council tax or benefit letter
Driving license

Proof of disability for automatic eligibility:
Copy of Blue Badge (showing serial number and expiry date)
Proof that applicant is currently in receipt of the HIGHER rate MOBILITY component of Disability Living Allowance
Proof that applicant is in receipt of War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement

If you are not in receipt of any of the above benefits, please speak to a member of staff to advise what can be accepted as proof of disability.

Do I need to provide a photo?
Yes, you will also need to provide a passport sized colour photograph of yourself (exactly 35mm x 45mm). It should be a full face view (no hat or sunglasses), clear and sharp, not too light or dark with your face in the centre of the image and have been taken within the past year.

Without a suitable photograph your pass cannot be produced. Old, poor quality photographs are not suitable and cannot be accepted .

What do I do if my circumstances change?
If you move address you must notify Bedford Borough Council in writing, if you do not, you will not receive a new pass when yours has expired. If you move out of the Bedford Borough administrative area you should return your pass to the Council to the address on the back page of this leaflet and make an application to your new local authority.

What do I do if I mislay, damage or have my travel pass stolen?
You will need to complete a form and return it with the necessary proofs and £5 fee (for lost or damaged passes) to Bedford Borough Council.

IMPORTANT - please note, you will no longer be able to obtain an immediate replacement for a lost, damaged or stolen permit from the Town Hall or Kempston Town Council and you will have to pay full fare for your journeys until the replacement has been manufactured and posted direct to your home address. There is currently a waiting period due to the increase in passes throughout England at this time.

What are the terms and conditions of use?
The terms and conditions of use are included in the current scheme leaflet, alternatively a copy can be downloaded here.

Is my pass valid on the train?
By commercial agreement with rail operators you can use the pass to obtain 50% discounts on a few routes during off-peak hours. Click here for details (please note that this information is more up to date than the information regarding train travel published in the scheme leaflets).

For more information regarding the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme visit the Department for Transport's website: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/concessionary

SERVICES A-Z

Concessionary Fares
Pension Credits
Over 50s
Bus Pass

Pension Credits
Over 50s
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