Arun pensioners bus passes safe from cuts

More than 35,000 residents were facing a half-hour delay in the time they could start using their pass, after Arun District Council announced the free travel would start from 9.30am from April 1.

Shifting the time forward from 9am was part of a package of spending cuts announced by Arun to save 3.2m over the coming years.

However, the government has now given Arun extra funding, enabling the council to revert to the 9am start for bus passes for the remaining 12 months it will be in charge of the concessionary travel service –West Sussex County Council will take over next April.

The government grant came too late to stop news of the original cutback being publicised in the council magazine, Arun Times, leading to confusion and anger among some pensioners.

Arun leader Gill Brown said she realised people might well be confused to read in Arun Times that the times were changing, but then see a local newspaper story or hear on the radio they were in fact remaining the same.

The u-turn also means that Arun pensioners will still be able to travel half an hour earlier than those in neighbouring Worthing.

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