A new national bus pass scheme will be coming into force on 1 April 2008, which will allow free off-peak travel after 9.30am.

The new national bus pass will be valid across England on all participating local bus services, and will replace the existing scheme that operates only within Wiltshire.

If you already have a Wiltshire bus pass, you should receive a form from the District Council asking if you want to take up the national pass when it comes into effect. Please return this promptly, as it will ensure that a pass is automatically issued to you next March in time for the start date of 1 April.

If your Wiltshire bus pass is due for renewal in the coming months, you will receive a replacement that has an expiry date of 31 March 2008 and then a new national pass for 1 April 2008 onwards.

Full details of how the new national scheme will work are expected later this year - see the next edition of West Wilts Matters for more information.

However, it is hoped that we will be able to continue with the concession currently offered in Wiltshire, where the bus pass allows travel after 9am Monday to Friday - half an hour earlier than the legal minimum.

If you are over 60 or registered disabled and wish to apply for concessionary travel for the first time, application forms can be obtained from the five town council offices, the tourist information centres or from our website at www.westwiltshire.gov.uk - alternatively please contact us on 01225 776655.

12:09pm Tuesday 11th December 2007

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