From D. Rowland:-IN response to the letter from Ray Jones (Mailbox October 29) on the subject of OAP travel concessions, I believe that the travel pass is a wonderful 'perk' - for the fit.

Those who live close enough to public transport and are fit can benefit from travel passes . What about those who are confined to their homes because of chronic illness and those who are physically unable to travel by bus as well as those who are mentally handicapped and unable to travel alone?

How about those who have to run a car because they are so far from a bus route? These people may be entitled to a travel pass but much good it does them.

Surely a much fairer scheme and one practised by some local authorities would be a system of vouchers which could be exchanged against bus tickets, licensing of cars or even against the cost of a television licence for the housebound.

The injustice of the present scheme has been compounded recently by the introduction of a charge of £2.00 a day for transport to Day Centres for the elderly and disabled. If they would actually like to go out in the evening - Heaven forbid, what an idea - then they would have to pay £3.50 for the privilege.

How can this be fair? Most are holders of the bus pass but cannot take advantage as the more able in our community are able to do. I think the situation is scandalous and one which has received far too little publicity. If you publish this letter I shall be very grateful as it may spark off public debate on the matter.

Target Road,

Heswall

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.