Accessible transport news
Changes in the Blue Badge Scheme eligibility
The Department for Transport (DfT) has recently amended some of the eligibility criteria for the Blue Badge scheme, effective June 2011. The two effected criteria are:
- Certain children between the ages of two and three
- Automatic entitlement for severely disabled service personnel and veterans
For full details of the changes please refer to the DfT website below:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/blue-badge-scheme-eligibility-changes
In addition, the Blue Badge Guidance issued to Local Authorities has also been updated and this outlines best practice approaches for Local Authorities to consider implementing.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/blue-badge-scheme-guidance-june-2011/
Disabled Blue Badge - government proposes major changes
The government announced on 14 February 2011 a major programme of reforms to the Blue Badge scheme, which has been developed in consultation with disabled people, local authorities and other stakeholders, and on the basis of research and economic analysis. The announcement details the plans to implement major reforms to crackdown on drivers who abuse the Blue Badge scheme and other changes to make the scheme more sustainable for the future.
The reforms will deliver the most comprehensive changes to the Blue Badge scheme for 40 years.
To view details of the changes in more detail please visit their website
Changes to the Taxicard scheme
We introduced the following changes to the Taxicard scheme on Friday 1 April 2011, in order to ensure that it stays within budget in the financial year 2011/2012.
- all members of the scheme must pay a £10 annual membership fee by 20 May 2011
- the fare you have to pay per trip will increase from £1.50, up to £2.50
- the maximum number of trips you can make if you are currently allocated 120 trips per year will be reduced to 108 trips
- you must report a lost or stolen Taxicard to us. We will charge a £10 administration fee for replacements.
Read the letter that was sent to members of the Taxicard scheme about these changes.
Older person Freedom Pass eligibility changes
Due to the government's gradual change to the age of pension eligibility for women, if your date of birth falls after 6 April 2010, you will not receive your Freedom Pass on your 60th birthday. You can find your date for eligibility in the following PDF document:
The PATS team will only process your application form 10 working days before your eligibility date (this will ensure that you receive your Freedom Pass before or as close to the qualifying date as possible). However, you may choose to send your completed application in to us up to six weeks before your qualifying date.
Important information concerning Freedom Passes for older people
The Mayor has announced that the Freedom Pass for elderly people will be extended to 24 hours a day from 2 January 2009 on the Bus, Tube, Docklands Light Railway, Tram and London Overground networks.
All Freedom Pass holders will be automatically entitled to this concession and do not have to do anything in order to receive this entitlement.
The Mayor does not have the power to extend 24-hour use to the remaining overland networks in London, which will continue to accept the Freedom pass for travel during off peak hours. However, the Mayor intends to discuss this with the Train Operating Companies when he meets with them later in the year and will encourage them to embrace it.
Please check the following websites for further information: www.london.gov.uk and www.freedompass.org/important.htm
Contact Camden 020 7974 4444