Fair Fares petition handed in at No.10
22nd February 2012
Keith Simpson joined other Norfolk MPs and council representatives to deliver the 23,500-signature Fair Fares petition to 10 Downing Street along with a formal request for a special grant to cover the unfunded costs of the Concessionary Travel scheme.
Representing Norfolk along with Keith were Graham Plant, Cabinet member for planning and transportation, Brandon Lewis MP for Great Yarmouth and George Freeman MP for Mid Norfolk.
Concessionary Travel is a nationally-funded scheme operated by local authorities, but for many the Government funding has been well short of the actual cost - in Norfolk's case £4.5m short this year (2011-12). This forces authorities to fill the gap from their own resources, putting pressure on other services including support for rural bus services.
