Disabled bus pass U-turn in East Sussex

Disabled residents in East Sussex are celebrating after the county council made a U-turn on free bus passes.

Until now people with disabilities in the county could only use their pass after 09:30, whereas residents in neighbouring West Sussex and Brighton and Hove could travel at any time.

Campaigner Liv, who created a petition calling for the change, said she was now "happy" as it had "felt really unfair".

An East Sussex County Council (ESCC) spokesperson said: "This change has been introduced to provide additional support for disabled passengers who often need to travel earlier in the day for work, education, or health care."

Liv told BBC Radio Sussex: "Some people just can't afford the fares and it can make it really difficult to get into day centres or even work.

"As someone on a low wage this was really expensive for me.

"Buses can be expensive and my bus pass really does help a lot."

A statement from ESCC said disabled bus passes could be used any time within county boundaries, but that did not include all-day travel into Brighton and Hove, Kent or West Sussex.

It said the changes had come about because of additional Department for Transport funding.

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