Mutiny on the buses continues (From Warrington Guardian)

Mutiny on the buses continues

7:55am Wednesday 21st May 2008

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A GROUP of elderly people have signed up to a petition to stop them being forced into paying for transport to day centres.

Earlier this month Warrington Guardian reported how pensioners at Whitecross Community Centre had boycotted a new £1.50 charge per leg of the journey to and from the centre.

Now, three weeks in to the new payment scheme, members of the day centre collected a petition of signatures addressed to council chief Diana Terris.

They handed it in to the Clr Celia Jordan, who visited the centre last week.

In protest to the charges, pensioners attending Whitecross Community Centre, have not paid for a single journey since the charges were implemented on May 1.

Members have also shown their disgust at the new charges by writing letters to the council.

Myles Crozier, from Troutbeck Avenue, Bewsey, wrote: "What have we come to when a charge is made to pay for transport to go to the day centres - all these people have free bus passes anyway.

"Are you saying that Warrington Council has had a review of Social Care Services and is not prepared to pay this charge anymore? In other words it is not prepared to honour the national over-60s free bus pass scheme."

It has also emerged that some people have been charged for the transport to and from care services since October 2006.

Centres that offer a high level of care for the elderly between five to seven days a week, such as Sandy Lane and Woolston Hall, have had the travel charge imposed for more than 18 months.

Pam Smith, head of service social care for older people and people with a physical disability, said: "This decision was not taken lightly and we do wish to continue to be able to provide the same level and quality of service to our users."

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