Villagers are being urged to apply for their new bus passes immediately to ensure they can continue to get discounts on their bus travel. From 1st April 2008, people with concessionary bus passes (over 60s and people with certain disabilities) will be able to travel free of charge on off-peak and weekend local bus services anywhere in England, including in London.

Under the existing scheme, passholders can only travel free of charge within Cambridgeshire and to a limited number of out of county destinations. Everyone who is eligible must have a new national bus pass, even if they already have a local one.

The new passes will be plastic smart cards with a chip in them to store information. As such, the passes take a while to produce and people are being urged to apply now so that they can be ready to use in April.

You can find out more about the new scheme on the Department for Transport web site.

For people in Milton passes are being issued by South Cambridgeshire District (SCDC). You will not be able to apply for the national pass at your local post office. To apply for a new bus pass you should contact SCDC on 08450 450 500 for an application form. Completed forms, together with a passport photograph, should be returned to SCDC’s office at Cambourne in person or using the pre-paid envelope supplied.

Cllr Nick Wright, portfolio holder for development services at SCDC, said,

If you are eligible for a new bus pass it’s very important that you apply today. This is so that all the new passes can be processed in time for the new scheme going live in April 2008. The new scheme is national which means you can use your bus pass on local services right across the country; whether you are going to Newcastle or Newquay you can use your new pass.

For those people who have applied for a new bus pass already, please bear in mind that your new bus pass will not be issued until March 2008.