A FUNDING gap in Worcester created by the free bus pass scheme for pensioners could be plugged with a special £130,000 grant.

But in a bizarre twist, councils across the county which made a good profit out of the key government scheme last year are also set to bolster their bank balances.

Transport minister Sadiq Khan yesterday announced a consultation period is underway that could see the county get an extra £950,000 from April on top of the £1.59 million already earmarked for the area.

Grahame Lucas, Worcester City Council’s head of financial services, welcomed the news.

He said: “That is absolutely fabulous. It will go a long way, if not the whole way, to addressing the shortfall we had on the 2008 scheme and that is really good news.”Under the scheme, introduced in April 2008, bus companies charge the local council a set amount each time a pensioner catches a bus for free – regardless of the distance travelled.

Because Worcester is a county town, its costs are far higher than those of neighbouring authorities as it is charged every time a visitor from the surrounding area uses a city bus.

We previously reported how the city council was underfunded by about £150,000 last year while other districts pocketed profits. Wychavon made £166,000, Malvern Hills £155,000, and Wyre Forest £70,000. As a result, news that those very councils are also set to benefit in the revised funding distribution has left some scratching their heads at the city council.

Based on the profits made last year, Wychavon could cash-in £216,000 this time around, Malvern Hills £165,000, while Wyre Forest could rake in £740,000.

The city’s MP Mike Foster admitted he was “surprised” with the level of funding for other districts but said it could be good news for Worcestershire in the long-run, especially if plans to shift the scheme over to the county council go ahead in 2011/12 and the current level of funding continues.

He said: “For them it will be a real pay day and I hope for bus users it will mean a considerable extra amount of cash will go to the county council to fund better bus provision and increased competition to drive down fares.”