AN urgent need exists in some parts of Worcestershire for local community mini bus services, an Evesham pensioners' leader has warned.

And Fred Kaler, chairman of the Evesham & District Older Peoples Forum has criticised the government's plans to introduce a free bus service for pensioners throughout England and Wales as too rushed.

Mr Kaler said the National Pensioners' Convention had warned Karen Buck, a junior transport minister, that the proposals could also lead to cuts in some existing services.

He added: "We believe that one of the main problems is the timescale that the government is trying to introduce the proposal.

"It is interesting to note that when free travel was introduced in Wales, it had already been debated for two years before it was implemented, with budget provisions made the year before.

"In England, local authorities have only recently found out how much of the £350m set aside for the scheme they would receive - just four months before the introduction of the scheme in April 2006."

Mr Kaler said his association agreed with Peter Rayner, NPC travel advisor who is on record as saying:

"The proposed local implementation of free bus travel will be unworkable - but in proving their point many excellent schemes will be dismantled to pay for the black holes in the government's proposal.

"The need for public transport increases with age and there is a proven link between improved health and the ability to be mobile and independent within the community.

"A scheme that is administered nationally that entitles all older and disabled people to free travel would end the existing postcode lottery."

Mr Kaler added: "We must also bear in mind within Worcestershire some areas do not even have a bus service and that there is a very urgent need for efficient integrated local community mini bus services in certain areas of the county."