Charity considers legal action
A local charity which represents 20,000 blind people is considering legal action over plans to scrap their free early morning bus travel.
Campaigners believe the changes will have a “crippling effect” on Blind Bus Pass users.
The Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind (NNAB) said: “We are taking legal advice about whether this decision can be taken to judicial review,” said the charity’s director, John Child. “Unlike sighted people, blind people do not have the option of driving or cycling to work, and the free bus pass scheme was originally brought in many years ago to enable them to get to work on time and therefore lead independent, dignified and fulfilling lives rather than be a burden on the state.
Norfolk County Council – which will run the county’s concessionary bus pass scheme from April 1st 2011 – says it can’t afford to fund the existing scheme, and plans to move back the time from when bus passes become valid to 9.30am.
The charity says many working registered blind people will be denied the ability to get to work on time as a result.
One local woman has been lobbying local councillors for support. Alison Young’s brother recently lost his sight following an operation on a brain tumour. She says she’s disgusted by the proposed changes: “ I believe they will have a crippling effect on blind people’ rights to lead a normal and active life [...] Many blind people work and need access to services for which they rely on public transport and I think this is a contravention of the disability act.”
The new restriction will also apply to over 60s, who receive free bus passes under a different scheme, but the NNAB says it will be working blind people who are hardest hit because they use them to earn a living.
A spokesperson for Norfolk County Council said: “Blind or visually impaired people who use bus services to get to work can still do so, but will generally have to pay. This is now the same as for working age people who have received passes for other disabilities [...] We have made representations to the Government and will continue to do so. Given the pressure on the County Council’s budget, enhancements to the scheme will only possible if supported by Government funding.”
Comment
