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'Concessionary travel passes'.
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Tel: 01225-776655
Fax: 01225-751674
[email address]
12 February 2009
Mr Robert Eriksohn
By E-Mail
Ref: KL/FOI/12.02.09
Dear Mr Eriksohn,
Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Request for Information
Thank you for your e-mail enquiry of 29/01/2009, where you requested information about the Council's Travel Concession Scheme.
You have requested the following information:
1 Does your authority provide concessionary travel passes to those individuals registered with their local Social Services department as disabled on the grounds of being a mental health user or survivor?
If your authority does have such arrangements why was the decision taken to extend the scheme in this way and what arrangements are in place?
3 If your authority does not have such arrangements does your authority have some other arrangement beyond the statuary minimum to provide passes to those with mental health issues?
If your authority does not have such arrangements why was the decision taken not to extend the scheme in this way and has consideration been given to extending the scheme in this way in the future?
5 Would it be possible to provide copies of any relevant policy documents you may have.
The Information that you have requested is below.
Our authority does not provide concessionary bus passes to those individuals registered with their local Social Services department as disabled on the grounds of being a mental health user or survivor. However, some mental health users may qualify for a bus pass on the grounds that they would be refused or have had their driving license revoked on the grounds of a severe mental disorder. Any applications that are received on the grounds of mental health are looked at on a case by case basis.
The Council follows the DfT's, seven categories of disability for issuing bus passes to those with disabilities. These categories are as follows:
1 Blind or partially sighted
2 Profoundly or severely deaf
3 Without speech
4 Has a physical disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to walk
5 Is without arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms
6 Has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning.
A person with a learning disability has a reduced ability to understand new or complex information, a difficulty in learning new skills, and may be unable to cope independently. These disabilities must have started before adulthood and have a lasting effect on development. The person should be able to qualify for specialist services and he or she may have had special education provision.
7 Would, if he applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have his application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.
Under section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 the Secretary of State may refuse to issue a driving licence on the grounds of the applicant's medical fitness. Those who are currently barred from holding a licence are people with:
Epilepsy
Severe mental disorder
Liability to sudden attacks of giddiness or fainting
Inability to read a registration plate in good light at 20.5 metres (with lenses if worn)
Other disabilities which are likely to cause the driving of vehicles by them to be a source of danger to the public
For those applying for a concessionary bus pass on the grounds of disability, we ask for the following proofs of disability.
Award letter for those receiving Disability Living Allowance
War Pensions Mobility Supplement
Registration for a Disabled Parking Badge
Registration under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Person Act
Registration with another body like the Royal National Institute for the Blind
We may also under certain circumstances accept a Doctors letter
There are currently no proposals to issue concessionary bus passes to those individuals on the basis of them being registered with their local Social Services department as disabled on the grounds of being a mental health user or survivor. This is due to the cost implications of extending the statutory minimum scheme. The only extensions we offer to the statutory minimum are, travel before 9.30am and companion passes to those who need assistance to travel.
However, due to Local Government Re-organisation this may be reviewed in the future. West Wiltshire District Council will cease to exist on 31/03/09 and a new Unitary Wiltshire Council will become the Travel Concession Authority for this area.
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to:
Andy Brown
Finance Service Manager
West Wiltshire District Council
Bradley Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 0RD
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs K Law
Accounting Technician (Services)
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