Environment Audit CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Mr Raymond Brookfield, Secretary, West Lancashire Pensioners Forum

Transport and the accessibility of Public Services [West Lancashire]:

Accessibility—Many residents in villages surrounding the market town of Ormskirk have no direct bus or train access into town, so visits to doctors, hospitals, libraries, opticians, legal advice or just friends and family are not possible.

The national bus pass is available to all pensioners and disabled, but is useless if there is no bus.

Affordability—At one time, those who needed to, could use their bus passes for Dial-a-ride, but that concession has been taken away along with travel tokens and many cannot afford to pay for the service nor pay for taxis and we do not have free use of trains that other authorities allow.

Availability—For many pensioners there is no transport available and they have to rely on family or friends to take them to places to shop for them, because many villages have lost post offices/general stores.

The transport in our area certainly does not meet the criteria you have set.

What we need is funding, so that we can enjoy the same freedom of movement that many pensioners in this country have.

5 September 2012