00:00Hello, yes, reporting from a very wet and windy central London today, almost 60,000 people have signed a petition opposing potential changes to London's older persons Freedom Pass.
00:14Now, the pass allows residents aged 66 and over to travel free on buses, the Tube, Trams, DLR, the London Overground, the Elizabeth Line and most national rail services in the capital as well.
00:29And it currently costs London councils nearly 330 million pounds. That figure is expected to increase in the coming years as well.
00:39Now, earlier this year, London councils confirmed it was planning to review the scheme.
00:45The organisation, which represents the capital's 32 boroughs and the City of London, indicated that one proposal under consideration was to restrict free travel for over 66 to buses only.
00:59Now, campaigners behind the petition have said such a move would be a serious setback for older people's independence here in the capital.
01:08Well, dismayed, I use my bus pass all the time. I don't live in London, but when I come to London, it's very useful. So I'd be a bit annoyed.
01:19Well, certainly, if you're lucky enough to get to 65, I'm 62 at the moment. When you've paid taxes all your life, you've paid into things like the national health system, you want it to be there, you know, to help you travel about and keep you well.
01:36So it's important that we recognise we're still paying national insurance. We still pay over the odds for, you know, a bit of freedom would be nice for people, I think.
01:47I feel sad for them and for me. I think it's duty bound for older people that the government and the city should take care of their older age pensioners because, let's face it, they've contributed to society all of our life.
02:11The petition also warns that existing problems with social isolation among older residents could worsen, while everyday activities and essential journeys could become significantly more difficult.
02:25The Freedom Pass is funded jointly by London's borough councils and the City of London Corporation as well.
02:32The cost of the scheme is projected to rise by almost 12% in the next financial year, increasing from that £330 million in 25 to 26 to approximately £372 million next year.
02:47Now, papers from a December meeting of London Council's Transport and Environment Committee revealed that limiting the pass to bus-only travel could reduce the annual cost of the scheme by more than £100 million.
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