BRADFORDIANS are being urged to back a national campaign asking the Government to commit to retaining free bus passes for the elderly following the General Election in May.

Organised by the National Pensioners’ Convention, more than 150,000 people had signed the ‘Love the Bus Pass’ petition when it was delivered to Downing Street in September, and the group wants to top 250,000 signatures before presenting the document again in March.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), responsible for the £1 billion West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund, said it was “committed” to providing concessionary travel, and local pensioner’s groups have said it would be a “tragedy” if the free passes were lost.

John Mawdesley, a former transport spokesman for the Bradford Older People’s Alliance, was part of a two-year campaign to secure a free bus service around the city in 2008.

“I have taken a back seat from campaigning in recent years, but as a pensioner, I would be very disappointed to see the bus passes withdrawn,” he said.

“It would be a tragedy for older people.

“Some people would be left on their own at home, unable to go anywhere, and that might then affect their health.

“Bus companies would also suffer a huge slump in passenger numbers, especially during the day, but I don’t know if they get enough from the government to subsidise the passes.”

Pam James, chairman of Open House for Seniors in Bradford and Ilkley, said bus passes were vital to prevent social isolation among elderly people.

“I realise there’s not a huge pot of money for everything, but it would be terrible if the passes were to go, and I would fight to keep them,” she said.

According to figures from the WYCA, 140,000 elderly people currently use concessionary bus passes on a regular basis across the county.

The annual costs of providing the passes is said to be £44.5million, but the authority hinted it would continue to do so regardless of any potential change to government policy.

A WYCA spokesman said: “The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is committed to providing concessionary travel, before national free travel was introduced, Metro’s scheme was better than the statutory requirement.”

To request petition forms and material, call 01922 641084.