Date: 18 February 2010 BROCKLEBANK SLAMS CONCESSIONARY FARE CUT BACKS Mid Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP, Ted Brocklebank, has attacked the SNP/Lib Dem administration on Fife Council for cutting the concessionary travel for disabled and elderly people and limiting the 50p rate to journeys only within Fife.
Commenting, Mr Brocklebank, said
'The SNP/Lib Dem coalition should be condemned for taking away concessionary travel for vulnerable disabled and elderly people wishing to travel to and from Fife to Perth, Dundee and Edinburgh at a reduced rate.
'While we would all accept, given Labour's economic crisis, that the current rate of 50p is unsustainable in the current climate, a more realistic approach to help reduce the scheme's overall cost, would be to triple the flat-rate return journey between Fife stations and Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh to £3. Most concessionaires who have approached me would find that 200 per cent increase a reasonable sum, especially if they were still expected to make their journeys outwith peak times.
'Yet again elderly people in Fife will feel isolated and will be deprived of the opportunity to visit their nearest large cities. Given the lack of shopping centres, especially in the North East of the Kingdom where facilities are limited, this is totally unacceptable.
'I would urge Fife Council to ditch this proposal and put forward a plan which is not discriminating against many disabled and elderly people in Fife who often find a trip to the capital a highlight of their weekly existences.' | 
