TRANSPORT Minister Norman Baker has pledged to look into the funding shortfall Devon County Council is facing over the concessionary travel scheme.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation, briefed the Minister last Friday on the growing concern in Devon about the lack of funding for concessionary bus fares, public transport and highway maintenance.

It was agreed that Department for Transport officials would monitor the situation and would keep in touch with the county on the issue.

The Minister also invited the council to write to him with further evidence of the funding gap so that he could investigate further.

Cllr Hughes said: 'We had a detailed discussion with Norman Baker and it was good to receive some positive feedback from him. The Minister listened to what we had to say and it was encouraging to hear him say he would investigate our concerns about the impact that funding reductions are having on bus services in rural areas.'

Due to changes in the legislation, district councils' responsibility for the pass ends on March 31, with Devon County Council taking over direct responsibility for concessionary bus travel within its area from April 1. Devon has been handed £7million of Government funding to operate the scheme, but it is expected to cost the authority around £12.35million to run.

Residents who already have a national bus pass do not need to register with Devon County Council unless their circumstances have changed, because all national bus passes remain valid and their information will automatically transfer from the district councils.

All new applicants living in Devon County Council's area should contact the concessionary bus travel team.

From April 1 the national bus pass will be valid for free travel throughout Devon County Council's area all day on Saturday, Sunday, public holidays and from 9:30am to the end of service on week days.  

The national bus passes will be valid for free travel before 9:30am in areas with infrequent bus services, where there is a journey on a service before 9:30am but none between 9:30am and 11am on that service.

A Devon companion pass will also be introduced from April 1 and will be available on application to all eligible residents.

This will be issued to severely disabled resident national bus pass holders who are only able to travel by bus with the assistance of a travelling companion. The companion pass will be valid for free travel for one companion travelling with the disabled national bus pass holder and the same times as the national pass.

District companion passes issued by West Devon will not be valid after March 31. District companion pass holders will be sent a letter explaining the change enclosing a Devon companion application form; other severely disabled residents can now apply for the Devon companion pass to be issued for April 1.

For information call the 01392 383688 or 01271 383688 for enquiries about concessionary bus travel in Devon from April 1.