Dial a Ride blow to pensioners

Readers of this week's Chronicle (two letters and article p18) will see that there is now a charge of £2.50 for any journey on the Dial a Ride bus.

This service has been taking people to Thornton House on a Tuesday. Would you pay £5 to go from Hillary Drive to Thornton House and back if you were a pensioner? The farthest away are only Buerton or Hankelow. If there was a normal bus and they were able to use it they could use their bus passes.

The Chronicle says that a spokesman for Cheshire East says they would be in receipt of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance but that is for Under 65s. Over 65s may or may not get attendance allowance but obviously they are expected to have poorer mobitiy so they do not get an allowance for it.

Audlem being Audlem, we are collecting volunteer drivers to run them there instead but, with up to 10 passengers involved, it will need three car journeys instead of one bus journey. The whole point of the meetings at Thornton house is to avoid isolation.

If any readers feel like protesting to anyone who might have influence please would they do so. This is a real kick in the teeth for the group who have worked so hard to keep the Tuesday meetings going.

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