Additional pounds 212m for free travel welcomed; Spending review.NORTH-East Adv. 1. north-east - to, toward, or in the northeast nor'-east, northeast north-east n → nor(d)este m north-east north n → nord-est transport chiefs yesterday welcomed an additional pounds 212m grant to support a major extension of concessionary travel after two years of lobbying the Government. Concerns have been raised that councils could face a cash shortfall with the introduction of concessionary off-peak bus travel for over-60s and the disabled across England England, the largest and most populous portion of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1991 pop. 46,382,050), 50,334 sq mi (130,365 sq km). It is bounded by Wales and the Irish Sea on the west and Scotland on the north. from next April. The problems over free bus travel for pensioners have been rumbling on since 2005 when the Government left the region facing a pounds 5.4m black hole after announcing the initial concessionary fare changes. But ministers have now pledged to provide pounds 212m in specific grants to local authorities responsible for bus travel, either passenger transport authorities or councils, to fund the estimated difference in the cost between the existing scheme and the new national programme. Shirley Shir·ley , William 1694-1771. British colonial administrator who was governor of Massachusetts (1741-1749 and 1753-1756) and commanded British forces in the French and Indian War. Atkinson Atkinson may refer to: Places In Canada:
"A specific grant should recognise the higher than average number of journeys made by Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear, former metropolitan county, NE England. Created in the 1974 local government reorganization, the county embraced the Newcastle upon Tyne conurbation and comprised five metropolitan districts: Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, pensioners, but we won't know how it will be calculated for another two months and only then will we have an idea what it means in practice. "We will then have to estimate how many extra journeys pensioners will make and what agreements on repayment we will be able to form with operators. All these will have an impact on how Nexus sets its budget for 2008-9. We will be pushing for the format which is most favourable to people in Tyne and Wear." A Nexus spokesman also said the Government's commitment to invest in the rail network was "very encouraging" as it sought approval for the pounds 600m modernisation of the Metro, for which there was an excellent case. A Department for Transport (DfT) spokeswoman said around pounds 1bn a year would now be provided for concessionary bus travel and expressed confidence sufficient funding was in place to pay for the scheme. CAPTION(S): IMPACT: Shirley Atkinson, right, has welcomed extra free bus travel cash. |
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