Free Blackburn with Darwen travelcard scheme could be extended

Council regeneration boss Maureen Bateson hopes the scheme, operated for six months by Darwen social enterprise Travel Assist, could be the blueprint for a partial replacement for the borough’s fleet of special minibuses.

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Last weekend she confirmed that the final axe would fall on Blackburn with Darwen council’s four community transport vehicles at the end of March.

The news angered users, but Cllr Bateson is seeking to use the NOW card, part of the government’s national free travel scheme for pensioners and the disabled.

Travel Assist hasve been running the on-demand scheme, registered as a bus route with the Traffic Commissioners, for six months.

Director Jim Coulthard said it they wanted to continue and extend the service so more pensioners and disabled passengers could use the service. The daily route is decided by the needs of clients who phone in. Henry Arnold of Feniscowles operator Dial-a-Ride said it they would be keen to join in.

Coun Bateson said: “We are now reviewing the pilot scheme we and the traffic commissioners have been operating with Travel Assist.

“When we have examined how it is working, I am keen to see how we can extend use of the NOW card to a variety of community transport enterprises, taxi firms and possible even bus operators.“It will take a lot of negotiation to make it work.”

Mr Coulthard said “The Travel Assist ethos is based on an unreserved right and that everyone should have access to free or affordable travel even if they experience difficulties accessing mainstream public transport.

“Following 12 months of hard work, Travel Assist has made this a reality ”.

Blackburn with Darwen Older People’s Forum chairman Brian Todd said: “The scheme is excellent and I would applaud the scheme’s its extension.”

The borough’s in-house service was scrapped to save £600,000 over three years as the council seeks to cut £31million from its budget.