Croydon plans to close disabled residents' free travel scheme

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 12:32 · Archive

Croydon Council plans to close its discretionary disabled travel pass scheme to new applicants to save £140,000 over two years.

Croydon Council plans to close its discretionary Disabled Persons Freedom Pass scheme to new applicants as part of efforts to cut spending on non-statutory services. The scheme provides free travel within London for residents aged 18 to 59 with physical disabilities or severe mental illness who are supported by Croydon Council's social services or South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Users must use the pass to help achieve goals set out in their care plan.

The closure is expected to save the council £90,000 in 2028/29 and a further £50,000 in 2029/30. These savings, alongside planned cuts to the council tax support scheme, form part of a wider £83.7m four-year package aimed at stabilising the borough's finances. The proposals are expected to take effect if the council's budget is approved in February.

Croydon Council faces mounting debt via Exceptional Financial Support, which government-appointed commissioners have warned could reach £900m by 2030. The council is also facing rising regional costs, including a required £1.35m annual increase in its contribution to TfL's pan-London Freedom Pass scheme.

How it is being reported

• Vulnerable Croydon residents could lose free travel under plans to AXE schemeDisabled Croydon residents could lose access to free travel across London under council plans to close a scheme for people who do not qualify for the statutory Freedom Pass.Croydon Guardian · 20 Oct, 12:00
• 'Utterly outrageous': Disabled Croydon residents could lose free travel under council saving plansThe council says closing the scheme to new applicants would save £140,000 over two years as part of a wider package of financial cutsMyLondon · 20 Oct, 08:58

In this story: Croydon Council · South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust · TfL · Croydon · London

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