THE concessionary travel scheme in which pensioners are granted free bus travel is in itself laudable. Many senior citizens rely heavily on buses to get around but struggle to afford the fares.

The introduction of free bus travel was intended to ensure that pensioners remain mobile, and that their experience of life is not restricted to the streets within walking distance of their home.

Allow its aim is worthy, the detail of the scheme’s implementation has been less than impressive.

The Government badly misjudged where the costs of this free travel would fall. The finances of Worcester City Council, for instance, have been hard hit by its requirement to reimburse bus companies for each free pensioner journey made in their area. This has been onerous because so many more journeys than anticipated are being made from county towns such as Worcester.

To rub salt in the wounds of councils like Worcester, it now learns that neighbouring authorities Wychavon, Malvern Hills, Redditch and Wyre Forest could actually gain from the concessionary travel scheme. Estimates suggest they are all the richer because they receive more than required in government grants allocated to fund the scheme.

Worcester MP Mike Foster, who has used the Freedom of Information Act to unearth financial details of the scheme, has accused the four councils who have pocketed extra government money of “fleecing”

Worcester. We wouldn’t go that far, but it is high time the financing of this scheme is thoroughly reviewed.