THE Labour Party in Redditch has distributed newsletters criticising the Liberal Democrats for contemplating changes to the free buss pass system the Labour introduced 20 years ago.

If circumstances were still the same as 20 years ago, the Lib Dems would not be looking to change it.

But times have changed very much:

The population of Redditch is getting older.

On average, people are living about five years longer.

By law, concessionary bus fares must now be available to men aged 60 instead of 65.

Bus fares have risen enormously.

The services provided by the commercial bus operators have deteriorated and would be even worse without large subsidies from the county council - ie council tax.

The result is the system Labour has introduced has become massively more expensive than anyone envisaged 20 years ago.

Its cost to all council taxpayers now makes it unfair to those who no longer have access to a decent bus service and to the many under-60s who are less well-off than some of the over-60s.

Councillors from all parties, including Labour, acknowledged this in discussions prior to the council meeting on September 1.

Clearly, some pensioners would find it hard to pay even a minimum flat rate. That is why the Lib Dems have asked council officers to investigate a system in which most over-60s would pay a low, flat fare but those in real need of a free pass would still get one.

We are also conducting the widest possible survey in the time available before the council makes a final decision.

Labour's populist stance on this issue cannot really be separated from the cynical way the Labour Government has failed to increase grants to councils in line with their expenditure obligations. Moreover, it is still planning for councils to increase tax by seven per cent a year.

Councillor DIANE THOMAS

Thornbury Lane

Church Hill

Councillor DAVID GEE

Hither Green Lane

Abbey Park