Free passes cost MPTE more
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• An increase in the• number of old-age pensioners, blind and disabled people using buses in the Merseyside PTE area since completely free passes were issued last April will contribute kfm to the Executive's deficit for the nine months ended December 31.
In a report to a recent meeting of Merseyside PTA Mr Albert Burrows, director-general of MPTE, said that when the passes were introduced it was estimated that they would cost the Executive about £750,000 in lost revenue from April 1, when charges to local authorities were abolished, until December 31 this year.
A recent census had shown that the average number of journeys by pass-holders was 285 and not the 225 estimated, and the cost was now equivalent to Lim for the nine months.
The passes are available to all people over the age of 68, and blind and leg-disabled people, who are resident within the MPTE boundaries. They can be used on buses operated by the MPTE, Ribble and Crosville.
At the same meeting Mr Burrows predicted that the PTE would lose £5.66m this year.