Concessionary fares

From 1 st April 2008, if you are aged 60+, or meet certain disability criteria and live in England you can enjoy free, off-peak travel on local buses anywhere in England.

Application for Consessionary Fares

The following information explains all you need to know about the National Bus Concession but if there is anything else you need to know please contact us either by telephone on 01594 810000, by Minicom on 01594 812500, by email: council@fdean.gov.uk or by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/buspass .

Am I Eligible For a Pass?

If you are a resident of the Forest of Dean District Council area and you are aged 60 years of age or over, you are eligible for a bus pass or concessionary travel tokens.

If you are disabled, you may also be eligible for a bus pass or concessionary travel tokens.

Disabled Persons Qualifying Criteria
These are defined in the Transport Act (2000) as someone who: -

•  M en and women 60 years of age and over.

•  Blind or partially sighted.

•  Profoundly or severely deaf.

•  Without speech.

•  Has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has substantial and long- term adverse effect on his/her ability to walk; the degree of impairment should be at a comparable level to that required to claim the higher rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance.

•  Does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms.

•  Has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence, social functioning.

•  Would, if he/she applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have his/her application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.

Independent medical confirmation to support any claim for concessionary fares under these categories will normally be required. Please be advised that any costs incurred to provide this proof are the responsibility of the claimant .

We have included this small FAQ list, however if there is anything else you need to know please contact us by telephone on 01594 810000, by Minicom on 01594 812500 or by email: council@fdean.gov.uk .

FAQ's

Q. How is the new national bus concession different to the current one?

A. From 1 April 2008 the new pass will enable users to get free travel on local buses anywhere in England.

Q. Can I travel at any time of the day?

A. The national scheme limits travel to off peak hours, which are 9.30am until 11pm Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and bank holidays. Some local authorities including some in Gloucestershire allow free travel at any time within their own district but this might well differ in another district. For more information about off peak travel please contact the local authority that issued your pass.

Q. Will I be able to enjoy free travel everywhere in the UK?

A. You can use your pass to travel across the border if the bus you catch is a service that takes you out of England.   However, you will not be able to make any connecting journeys once in Wales or Scotland using your pass.

It has been agreed that residents within the Forest of Dean administration area will be able to make a return journey into England from Chepstow and Monmouth.

Q. If I visit an area that offers additional services, will I be entitled to them?

A. This is unlikely as most local authorities will only provide additional services for their own residents but you should check with the relevant authority for the area in which you intend to travel.

Q. The different additional schemes provided by the various local authorities are confusing. What is my basic entitlement?

A. The new national pass entitles you to free off peak local bus travel anywhere in England. This is the only service that is guaranteed. Some authorities may offer additional or alternative services but you should check with your local authority for more details.

Q. What happens once I have my national bus pass?

A. The new pass issued by the Gloucestershire local authorities will be valid until 31 March 2013. You do not need to renew it each year but should you change your name, address or eligibility details you must provide the new details to your local authority as soon as they change. If you move to another local authority area either within Gloucestershire on elsewhere in England you must return your pass to the local authority that issued it for cancellation and then apply to your new authority for a new pass.

Q. What happens if I lose my bus pass?

A. You should immediately inform the local authority that issued it so that it can be cancelled. There will be a standard charge of £5 for a replacement pass, which will be payable prior to the issue of the new pass. It will not be necessary to provide a new photograph unless your photograph ceases to be a good likeness.

Q. I am unable to use normal buses or prefer to use community transport such as dial-a-ride. Will my pass cover these journeys?

A. Please see our Concessionary Travel Tokens information further down this page.

Information About Concessionary Travel Tokens

If you are eligible for a bus pass but feel this is not suitable for your needs you may prefer to apply for concessionary travel tokens. The tokens allow for full or part payment of journeys booked with an operator who accepts them.

Concessionary travel tokens are issued at a fixed amount for the financial year (01st April – 31 st March). The total amount currently issued for a year is £25.00. If you become eligible for tokens during the year, you will receive an apportioned amount of tokens dependent upon the month in which you become eligible.

Stagecoach WILL NOT accept the tokens but they can be used on local dial-a ride services as well as these taxi companies: