Disabled bus passes set for renewal
Almost a thousand Disabled and Disabled Companion concessionary bus passes are being renewed by Darlington Borough Council’s Concessionary Travel Team.
These will be sent direct to people whose pass expires at the end of March 2021. All passes should be received by 1 April 2021.
Thousands more Older Person’s concessionary bus passes will also expire at the end of March. These pass holders will be able to renew their pass using a new online bus pass service.
The online service will go live from Thursday 4 March and Older Person’s pass holders will need to renew before 31 March if they wish to travel from 1 April. Being able to offer an online bus pass renewal service will provide a safer way to renew as it will limit unnecessary face to face contact.
To help the process run as smoothly as possible, the council’s dedicated bus pass web page will be updated with a step-by-step guide and there will be a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section to help address common concerns. A quick ‘how to’ renewal guide will also feature in the March issue of One Darlington, the Partnership magazine that goes to all local households.
Councillor Andy Keir, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for Transport, said:
“The renewal of around 12,000 bus passes is already well underway with all Disabled passes being processed and posted out over the coming weeks. Older Person’s passes that expire on or before 31 March will need to be renewed online.
“The effects of Lockdown have meant that more and more services have moved online. Many of our older residents are already using online services such as supermarket shopping and our library service’s select and collect service.
“However, we would hope that if anyone is struggling to renew online, they can ask friends and family to lend a hand. There is also a telephone line for anyone who needs further help to renew their pass.”
The web page can be found at: www.darlington.gov.uk/bus-pass The step-by-step guide and FAQ will be available on this page from 1 March, in readiness for renewals from 4 March.