REDDITCH pensioners could soon be entitled to completely free travel as the council will be forced to ditch its £5-a-year bus pass charge in line with Government legislation.

The concessionary fare scheme, which provides cheap travel for the elderly and disabled, is due to be amended in November.

Redditch Council must abandon the £5 charge for a bus pass which entitles people to free travel, or introduce a half-fare scheme with free travel permits.

The council spends an estimated £500,000 a year on the concessionary fare scheme, which has been running since 1984.

The Government's Transport 2000 Bill requires that by 2001, all councils must enable pensioners and eligible people with disabilities to pay a minimum of no more than half-fare on buses and make no charge for concessionary permits.

To help local councils, the Government is making £39 million available to support concessionary fare schemes across the country.

Figures show that Redditch permit holders make about 1.6 million trips a year.

Council policy co-ordinator Pippa Stilwell said: "The Government has said that councils may provide schemes that are more generous than the standard minimum if they wish.

"But they are not free to provide schemes that are any less generous.

"So our existing system will need some slight changes to comply with the minimum standard."

Council Leader Albert Wharrad said: "I can't see us moving away from the present scheme towards a half-fare scheme."