Concerns raised over travel fare increases in Argyll and Bute

But a transport chief has hit back and said that the increase is necessary, and that the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme would end in three years without it.

 

The scheme’s joint committee agreed in September that fares for wholly rural rail journeys, and ferry trips, will be capped at £2.50 for a single and £4 for a return.

 

Rail and ferry journeys under 10 nautical miles are currently capped at £1 and £1.50 respectively, before the increase starts on Tuesday, April 1.

 

Argyll and Bute Council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee unanimously agreed a motion in December that the authority should express “deep concern” about the rise.

 

Further discussion took place on the matter at a meeting of the council’s Cowal Transport Forum on Wednesday January 29, where Councillor William Sinclair (Liberal Democrat, Cowal) raised the motion.

 

Gordon Ross, of Western Ferries, said: “SPT administer the funds. It is the funding of SPT that is the problem.

“If they do not have the funding then changes have to be made to the passenger contribution.

 

"They are doing the best they can with the finances that are given to them.

 

“It is within the remit of the Scottish Government to provide additional funding that is required.”

 

Alan Comrie, of SPT, added: “We would gladly rescind the fare increase if the 12 councils funded it. We are merely trying to extend the scheme with the reserves we have.

 

“It will end in about thee years’ time at the current rate of decline. We would love to keep the fares at the current level, but it would be unrealistic.

 

“They have not gone up in the last six years, and £1.50 six years ago is not the same as £1.50 now.

 

“If the increase does not go ahead, the scheme could well peter out, and we sincerely do not want that to happen. I appreciate that people have financial issues, but we have to do this.”

 

Councillor Daniel Hampsey (Conservative, Dunoon), the transport forum’s chair, said: “I was not on the committee that made the decision with the motion, but I am happy to follow up on the point.

 

“I agree that it is a balancing act. We have had council tax freezes and you get to the point of questioning where you move forward and address funding shortfalls.”

 

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: “Regional transport partnerships (RTPs) are funded by local authorities, in addition they receive a revenue grant from the Scottish Government.

 

“It is for RTPs to determine how they wish to spend their budget, in line with their regional transport strategies.”