ARMED Forces personnel and veterans should be allowed to travel free on buses and trains across the UK, according to Worcestershire Lib Dems.
Worcestershire County Council is being urged to call on the Government to consider introducing a nationally-funded free public transport scheme for serving members of the Armed Forces and military veterans.
A motion due to go before a full meeting of the council next Thursday calls for changes to legislation and policy which would allow free bus and rail travel throughout the UK.
TRAIN TRAVEL: Martin Allen, himself a veteran, is among the councillors calling for free train and bus travel for military veterans and members of the armed forces (Image: Phil Wilkinson-Jones/LDRS)
If approved, the council would write to the Secretary of State for Transport and other relevant Government ministers asking them to consider the proposal.
The councillors behind the motion say any scheme should be introduced nationally and paid for by central government to ensure consistent provision between different operators and parts of the country.
The motion has been put forward by councillors Martin Allen, Mel Allcott, Paul Bennett, Sam Evans, Dan Boatright-Greene, Chris McSweeny and Sam Ammar.
Worcestershire already has its own free bus travel scheme for veterans and serving Armed Forces personnel.
It was introduced in April this year and covers the county’s commercial bus network and Worcestershire on Demand services for personnel and veterans who do not already have a concessionary bus pass.
Veterans can access the scheme by showing their Veteran Card, while serving personnel can present military ID.
The county council said when the scheme launched that Worcestershire was home to more than 21,000 veterans and more than 500 regular Armed Forces personnel.
It followed a trial offering free travel to veterans using Worcestershire on Demand.
The new motion would go further by seeking a similar entitlement to free bus and rail travel across the UK.
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Councillors behind it say Worcestershire residents have continued a “proud tradition of service and sacrifice” within the Armed Forces.
If passed, the motion would also see the council reaffirm its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and recognise the contribution made by serving personnel and veterans.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a national commitment that serving personnel, veterans and their families should be treated fairly and face no disadvantage compared with other citizens because of military service.
