PENSIONERS have hit out at transport bosses for failing to deliver new national bus passes on time.
While some are enjoying the benefits of free travel across the whole of England, others have been left out in the cold.
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) has apologised for delays in getting passes to their owners, caused by problems processing people's applications.
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Brian Pennington, aged 77, applied for his pass in November but it has yet to arrive at his home in Wheatfield Street, the Haulgh.
He said: "My wife received her pass in time for when the changes were introduced on April 1, but mine is nowhere to be seen.
"I am convinced they have lost my form but when I ring up GMPTE they just say the passes are being sent out.
"I also know of five people who have received duplicate copies, when I'm here without. It's ridiculous."
Keen traveller Manju Ghosh, aged 61, from Lostock, hit the headlines this week for having travelled from Berwick in the North-east to Land's End by bus for free.
But some disabled people have had difficulty simply getting hold of application forms.
Stephen Lee, aged 60, said: "I volunteer with a number of disabled groups and there are a lot of people who have not received their passes.
"The situation is appalling and GMPTE are using positive stories, such as the lady travelling the length of the country, as a smoke screen for the real problem."
However, Peter Garvey, of Greater Manchester Transport Campaign, said all the group's members had received their passes on time.
GMPTE has sent out 330,000 bus passes across the region and is receiving 6,000 new applications each week.
Director Michael Renshaw said: "I would like to apologise to any readers who applied for their new bus pass before March and have not yet received it.
"The process was originally set up to be fully automated so that passes could be produced as quickly as possible.
"Unfortunately in some cases, problems with scanning people's handwriting, forms missing information and incorrect photographs being sent, delayed the process.
"We are working on these individual cases and hope to have their passes delivered soon."
People can continue to use their old passes for travel on buses, trains and trams within Greater Manchester until the end of September.
Posted by: wayne55, bolton on 7:10pm Wed 16 Apr 08
so if existing passes can be used till the end of september whats all the fuss about? hardly a newstory worth printing,,ie no ones actually been left out in the cold ....
so if existing passes can be used till the end of september whats all the fuss about? hardly a newstory worth printing,,ie no ones actually been left out in the cold ....
Posted by: Dave, Westhoughton on 7:53pm Wed 16 Apr 08
[quote][bold]wayne55[/bold] wrote:
so if existing passes can be used till the end of september whats all the fuss about? hardly a newstory worth printing,,ie no ones actually been left out in the cold ....[/quote] i may be wrong, but i think the old passes only entitle you to travel in the areas you could travel to before April 1st and if you try to use them anywhere else, you shouldn't be allowed to use them. Because, as i read it anyway, you need the new card to confirm you are eligible as the old cards could have been passed on to other people
wayne55 wrote:
so if existing passes can be used till the end of september whats all the fuss about? hardly a newstory worth printing,,ie no ones actually been left out in the cold ....
i may be wrong, but i think the old passes only entitle you to travel in the areas you could travel to before April 1st and if you try to use them anywhere else, you shouldn't be allowed to use them. Because, as i read it anyway, you need the new card to confirm you are eligible as the old cards could have been passed on to other people
Posted by: WUMPKINS, bolton on 7:56pm Wed 16 Apr 08
People can continue to use their old passes for travel on buses, trains and trams within Greater Manchester until the end of September.
WHATS THE MOAN ??????
Unless you're going
country jaunting
People can continue to use their old passes for travel on buses, trains and trams within Greater Manchester until the end of September.
WHATS THE MOAN ??????
Unless you're going
country jaunting
Posted by: Lord Lucan, Somewhere on 8:07pm Wed 16 Apr 08
A number of points here:
1 these passes do NOT provide free travel - they are provided by the largesse of teh tax payer to the tuen of an extra £1bn per annum
2 It must be illegal to discriminate on the basis of age: so either everyone should get this privilege or no-one
3 Why are we wncouraging un-necessary travel on gas guzzling, CO2 belching and polluting buses which are far more damgingto the environment than any gas guzzling 4x4?
4 is it any surprise that the ungrateful recipients of this mammoth waste are, well, moaning?
A number of points here:
1 these passes do NOT provide free travel - they are provided by the largesse of teh tax payer to the tuen of an extra £1bn per annum
2 It must be illegal to discriminate on the basis of age: so either everyone should get this privilege or no-one
3 Why are we wncouraging un-necessary travel on gas guzzling, CO2 belching and polluting buses which are far more damgingto the environment than any gas guzzling 4x4?
4 is it any surprise that the ungrateful recipients of this mammoth waste are, well, moaning?
Posted by: Lord Lucan, Somewhere on 8:08pm Wed 16 Apr 08
A number of points here:
1 these passes do NOT provide free travel - they are provided by the largesse of teh tax payer to the tuen of an extra £1bn per annum
2 It must be illegal to discriminate on the basis of age: so either everyone should get this privilege or no-one
3 Why are we wncouraging un-necessary travel on gas guzzling, CO2 belching and polluting buses which are far more damgingto the environment than any gas guzzling 4x4?
4 is it any surprise that the ungrateful recipients of this mammoth waste are, well, moaning?
A number of points here:
1 these passes do NOT provide free travel - they are provided by the largesse of teh tax payer to the tuen of an extra £1bn per annum
2 It must be illegal to discriminate on the basis of age: so either everyone should get this privilege or no-one
3 Why are we wncouraging un-necessary travel on gas guzzling, CO2 belching and polluting buses which are far more damgingto the environment than any gas guzzling 4x4?
4 is it any surprise that the ungrateful recipients of this mammoth waste are, well, moaning?
Posted by: Daisy Hill, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton on 9:10pm Wed 16 Apr 08
When, with turnout frequently falling below 30% in local elections, will the Great British public finally understand that (in the continued absence of a "None of the Above" vote) the only way to register your political protest is to 'spoil' your ballot paper?
As far as I can see, the only way to radically change the way politics works in our country involves:
1. Actually 'turning out' to vote.
2. Writing 'Spoiled Ballot' across your ballot paper.
3. Posting your 'protest' vote in the ballot box.
At least this way, the politicians will finally understand that the electorate actually cares.
Our continued failure to 'turn out' only means that we end up 'electing' the candidates we deserve.
When, with turnout frequently falling below 30% in local elections, will the Great British public finally understand that (in the continued absence of a "None of the Above" vote) the only way to register your political protest is to 'spoil' your ballot paper?
As far as I can see, the only way to radically change the way politics works in our country involves:
1. Actually 'turning out' to vote.
2. Writing 'Spoiled Ballot' across your ballot paper.
3. Posting your 'protest' vote in the ballot box.
At least this way, the politicians will finally understand that the electorate actually cares.
Our continued failure to 'turn out' only means that we end up 'electing' the candidates we deserve.
[quote][bold]Daisy Hill[/bold] wrote:
When, with turnout frequently falling below 30% in local elections, will the Great British public finally understand that (in the continued absence of a "None of the Above" vote) the only way to register your political protest is to 'spoil' your ballot paper? As far as I can see, the only way to radically change the way politics works in our country involves: 1. Actually 'turning out' to vote. 2. Writing 'Spoiled Ballot' across your ballot paper. 3. Posting your 'protest' vote in the ballot box. At least this way, the politicians will finally understand that the electorate actually cares. Our continued failure to 'turn out' only means that we end up 'electing' the candidates we deserve. [/quote] again
Daisy Hill wrote:
When, with turnout frequently falling below 30% in local elections, will the Great British public finally understand that (in the continued absence of a "None of the Above" vote) the only way to register your political protest is to 'spoil' your ballot paper? As far as I can see, the only way to radically change the way politics works in our country involves: 1. Actually 'turning out' to vote. 2. Writing 'Spoiled Ballot' across your ballot paper. 3. Posting your 'protest' vote in the ballot box. At least this way, the politicians will finally understand that the electorate actually cares. Our continued failure to 'turn out' only means that we end up 'electing' the candidates we deserve.
Posted by: VM User, Bolton on 5:33pm Thu 17 Apr 08
My Brothers was late and when showing his old out of date pas, The drivers did'nt bother...
now he has the new one, They actually say "Hang on, Let me see that properly" !!!
They just look confused and continue "Yeah..Err carry on"
My Brothers was late and when showing his old out of date pas, The drivers did'nt bother...
now he has the new one, They actually say "Hang on, Let me see that properly" !!!
They just look confused and continue "Yeah..Err carry on"
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