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A NATIONAL charity has taken up a pensioners' campaign over bus passes.

The pensioners are upset the Vale of White Horse District Council refused to join other local authorities in subsidising an extra 30 minutes for the new national bus pass scheme.

Age Concern has launched petitions across the Vale calling for people over 60 and those with disabilities to use their concessionary bus passes, introduced at the beginning of April, from 9am.

Although the councils are required by the Government to run the travel scheme from 9.30am, three of Oxfordshire's councils - Oxford City, South Oxfordshire and West Oxfordshire - are funding theirs to start at 9am and meeting the extra cost themselves.

However, the Vale council has refused to do so, saying the scheme was already underfunded by the Government.

Age Concern is worried the later start will have a negative effect on those living in rural areas - and people who need to attend hospital appointments. Mary Daniel, chief executive of Age Concern Oxfordshire, said: "We know how important concessionary fares are to so many older people and we are keen to try to persuade the councils concerned to reconsider their decision."

Chris Witcher, Age Concern advice manager, said: "My daughter Jenna will be helping with this campaign, she has a learning disability and is very distressed that she can't get to her day centre on time. The reality is that when people are unable to get around they are much more at risk of losing their independence and small financial savings can end up costing the taxpayer a lot more in the long run."

12:05pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008

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