Harrogate Town Council has called for an end to time restrictions on disabled bus passes in the area.
At a recent meeting, councillors voted in favour of a motion put forward by Liberal Democrat councillor Josie Craven, which asked that the Mayor of Harrogate write to the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire urging a change in policy.
At present, bus passes for people with disabilities cannot be used before 9am, something Cllr. Craven said places unnecessary barriers on employment and healthcare access.
Sharing her own experience, Cllr Craven said the restrictions had directly shaped her working life.
She said:
“At just 18 years of age, when I went to my first job interview, I was dismayed to discover that my pass was not valid until 9am.
“That moment shaped the reality of my career; it dictated the jobs I could take, the hours I could work, and it caused panic when receiving early medical appointments.
"Our campaign, cutting across all levels of government, is to bring an end to this situation.”
The issue has also been raised at a national level. Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has tabled an amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill in a bid to remove the restrictions across the country.
Cllr. Andrew Timothy, who seconded the Harrogate Town Council motion, described the situation as a “postcode lottery” and said he hoped coordinated efforts locally and nationally would bring about change:
“The responsibility is now with the regional Mayor in York to take the action for people up and down the county to end the restrictive time limits."
The council’s decision adds to ongoing debate over where responsibility for bus pass policy should sit, with national and local authorities both previously pointing to one another as the decision-making body.
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