Shropshire Council welcomes extension of free bus travel for disabled people

Shropshire Council has welcomed the Government’s announcement that free bus travel for eligible disabled people in England will be extended to 24 hours a day from April 2027, removing the current weekday time restrictions on concessionary bus passes.

The change is intended to make public transport more accessible and help disabled people travel more easily for work, education, healthcare and leisure.

 Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said:

“I warmly welcome this announcement, which is great news for disabled people across Shropshire and the rest of the country. Removing unnecessary restrictions on concessionary travel will help make our public transport network more accessible and give people greater freedom and independence in their daily lives.

“Tom Gordon MP deserves real credit for his determined campaigning on this issue. He has consistently made the case that disabled people should not be limited by arbitrary time restrictions, and it is encouraging to see that argument recognised.

“However, councils’ transport budgets are already under significant pressure. I very much hope that this commitment is backed by genuine new funding from Government, rather than further demands on already stretched local authority resources. If this policy is to succeed, it must be properly funded.”