The Fair Fares for Norfolk petition is delivered to No10 Downing Street. Left to right: Sophie Allan, from the Campaign for Better Transport, Richard Bacon MP, Brandon Lewis MP, George Freeman MP, Keith Simpson MP, and Grahan Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for planning and transportation and John Hart, leader of Devon County Council.
Norfolk bus fare petition delivered to 10 Downing Street
By DAN GRIMMER
Public affairs correspondent
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
6:30 AM
A “significant step” has been made in a campaign to convince the government to plug a multi-million pound funding gap in Norfolk caused by concessionary bus fares, council leaders said after presenting a 23,500-signature petition at Downing Street.
Norfolk County Council leaders met transport minister Norman Baker in London yesterday, where he agreed a specially-convened working group would investigate whether rural counties such as Norfolk were getting a raw deal.
The council launched its Fair Fares campaign in autumn because the amount the government gives the council to reimburse bus operators for ferrying about concessionary bus pass-holders does not cover the actual cost.
That has left the county council £4.5m out of pocket this year and the figure is likely to rise to £5.3m over the next 12 months.
Yesterday, council leaders and Norfolk MPs went to Downing Street to present a petition signed by thousands of Norfolk people calling for the government to give extra cash to the county to cover the costs.
Graham Plant, county council cabinet member for planning and transportation, was joined by Great Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis, South Norwich MP Richard Bacon, Broadland MP Keith Simpson and Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman.
The campaign has won support beyond the Norfolk borders, and John Hart, leader of Devon County Council, and Sophie Allan, from the Campaign for Better Transport, also headed to Downing Street for the handing over of the petition, which was followed by the meeting with Mr Baker.
Mr Plant said a “significant step” had been taken, after it emerged at the meeting a recently-formed local government finance group, which will meet each month, will look specifically at concessionary bus fares and the cost of rural transport.
Mr Plant said: “I am not hopeful of getting a special grant to cover the cost, but what I am hopeful of is that once the group has had a look at the issue for the rural counties we will get a fairer slice of the funding.
“It showed that the petition was well worth the effort the people of Norfolk made and that their voice has been heard in the heart of government.”
Great Yarmouth MP Mr Lewis said: “I would like to thank everyone who signed the petition. This is not an issue which will simply go away.
“I will be pressing the minister very hard on this issue as the current situation is unsustainable.
“The entire Norfolk transport system is straining to cope with the burden placed by the current arrangements, which is a legacy of the last government.”
dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk
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29 comments
He doesn't need to know anything Daisy - he just gets on with doing whatever Cllr Murphy tells him to do, just like the rest of the toadying tory rabble at county hall.
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Fenscape
Thursday, February 23, 2012
A shame there is not a way of tallying the passengers who are from out of county and billing their county direct. Wouldn't a bar code on passes and a code reader do it? At least Norfolk free riders will have paid council tax, unlike holidaymakers. As for Plant, what does a restauranteur know about roads and transport?
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Daisy Roots
Thursday, February 23, 2012
i agree jack--mr plant must go.crafty.
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bookworm
Thursday, February 23, 2012
i agree jack--mr plant must go.crafty.
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bookworm
Thursday, February 23, 2012
i agree petitions are shredded to make hamster bedding.they never work. to other posters--i say logans run--yes it may work....
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bookworm
Thursday, February 23, 2012
"Norfolk bus fare petition delivered to 10 Downing Street" ___ Where it was swiftly placed in file 131N (Bin), by the self serving MP's
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"V"
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Can anyone name a time anywhere in history that a petition actually worked?? waste of time
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timmy_two_sheds
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Graham Plant is out with the begging bowl because he knows that Tory Wheelabrator is already costing Norfolk tax-payers a fortune. A FOI request reveals that NCC has spent £2.5 million in only just two years on a waste incinerator nobody wants. Grahm Plant you should resign. Norfolk will be a lot better off without you. 65.516 people said NO doesn't that mean anything to you.
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Jack
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
What I want to know is how Graham Plant got to London today? Was it on a bus?? With NCC paying him 45p a mile to drive his car everywhere, I doubt he even knows what the inside of a bus looks like.....
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Fenscape
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
bookworm if you have worked longer than most OAPs then you must be a OAP and therefore can have a bus pass. What's your problem ?
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ALED
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
i know 2 millionaires with a BMW who use the bus all the time.whats so fair about that?see sense.
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
the free passes are given to people due to their age--the amount of tax paid or not does not come into it.so your argument does not stand up.
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
to nic dasey--i have worked longer than many OAPS who are claiming the passes.thats the irony.im not allowed free travel.
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
when I retire there will not be free bus passes.
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
when retire there won't be bus passes at all.hence my bitterness.....thanks to Hugh for agreeing.
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
bookworm, your right, OAP bus passes must go.
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Hugh
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Bookworm you will be an OAP one day.
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ALED
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Bookworm: I along with many other people pay income tax, council tax, VAT, VED, fuel duty, along with a few stealth taxes. From my observations if those with passes didn't use buses outside of rush hour they would be empty all day. Most pensioners have paid taxes all their lives and typical of the selfish attitude of people there are those that begrudge them something that they are not getting.
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nicholas dasey
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
bet these suits have never been on a bus since school days and do not know how over priced the fares actually are. what is in this sceme for them?why do they think pensioners should ride for free?better to charge them or consider campaigning for lower fares for all.
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
my bus fare is going up at Easter but cost s me £20 a week at the moment. why should OAPs get all these free travel passes?They will be abolished but when?
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
totally agree with last poster. democracy means a different thing to these councillors --depends on the subject and never mind the level of public support.
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I feel sick at the hypocracy of Norfolk County Council. They want "Fair Fares" so have a jolly down to London to present a petition of 23,500 signatures to the PM. (Wonder where they went for Lunch - Fortnums?) This they call a "significant step" SO, why do they consider 65,000 votes against incineration in Norfolk to be "TOTALLY INSIGNIFICANT"? That's really "FAIR" isn't it?
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Christine
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
it sickens me to see these councillors holding out the begging bowl to help one group of people.this is a luxury the county cannot afford.
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
withdraw the burden of free pensioner bus passes and save billions. why should they get £20 a week plus in free travel?
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
withdraw OAP bus passes and save billions of pounds. why should they get a free ride worth£20 a week? make everyone pay the same amount.
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bookworm
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
if the tory government wont help a tory council what hope is there for that party ?
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Double Bill
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Marvellous isn't it! On the one hand Graham Plant will happily ignore a petition against incineration but use one to support his arguments for more money. You can bet that if the incinerator referendum had been in favour of this project he would not have ignored the result. This just goes to show the calibre of people spending our money in local, and I suppose, national government. Resign Mr Plant.
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smithrob
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Why do they feel that a mere 23,500 signatures is worth listening to when they have failed to take notice of the 65,512 people who said NO to an incinerator? Localism other works for all or not at all.
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jo4nn3rust@hotmail.co.uk
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The County Council has no choice but to repay the bus companies for carrying the senior bus pass holders. This is a government-imposed scheme which should be reimbursed correctly. Obviously it would help if some of the better off pass-holders paid their own fares but that would make little difference overall. If the NCC cannot reclaim all its costs then there is a serious risk to rural bus services which are vital in a county like Norfolk. Some people are also clamouring for free parking in Norwich which is another way to kill off the bus services.
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JCW
Wednesday, February 22, 2012