Following the recent secret announcement that the Labour Government is proposing to cut funding for the popular freedom pass, Lynne Featherstone MP has now written to the Transport Minister to demand a re-think. Local Liberal Democrats are also encouraging residents to sign an online petition, demanding the proposal be halted.

Labour plan to take £1.8 million from the concession Haringey Council receives to finance the freedom pass for the elderly and disabled, and give it to other parts of England to plug the gaps in the cost of the scheme that they have rolled out nationally.

Outside London, most concessionary fare schemes are fully funded by Government grant, but in Haringey the scheme is only 66% funded by the concession.

Residents who want to sign the petition should go to http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/freedompass

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Other parts of the country already get 100% of the costs of the free travel scheme covered. Here local residents pay a third. The Labour Government cuts would reduce that support to 50%. It is a sly and unfair move.

“This is not acceptable and I urge all local residents to sign the online petition calling for this ridiculous idea to be dropped.”

Robert Gorrie, leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats adds:

“Haringey Labour are already responsible for residents having to pay one of the highest Council Tax rates in London. Now the Labour government wants to make a change that could add almost £20 to those bills.

“I hope the government will think twice before burdening local residents with even higher charges when so many are suffering from the recession. This idea couldn’t have come at a worse time.”