The cost of bus travel for pensioners in Oxford is set to rise by 50 per cent after councillors voted to increase concessionary fares.

The rise is part of a package designed to tempt more people on to public transport. But pensioners' groups have criticised the measures.

Labour members of Oxford City Council's finance and performance management overview and scrutiny committee voted to increase the cost of a single pensioners' ticket from 20p to 30p.

A return fare of 40p was also introduced together with day passes, costing 70p, and five-day passes costing £3.

The changes are designed to encourage elderly people to travel more often.

Penny Thewlis, spokesman for Age Concern Oxfordshire, said: "Our policy is that public transport should be free for older people."

Phil Jupp, chairman of the Oxford branch of the TGWU Retired Members' Association, said: "It's unfair to people who want to make one journey outside the allowed times. Pensioners' fares don't apply before 9am."

Liberal Democrat committee members voted for an alternative measure that would have kept single fares at 20p and introduced a return fare of 30p.

Group leader John Goddard said: "The concessionary fare scheme is a very good way of allowing pensioners to have an active life.

"This fare hike is going to make them worse off."

Labour committee member Bryan Keen said regular bus users would be better off.

He said: "The council is trying to concentrate on return fares. Almost all the buses stop in the city centre, so if you need to go somewhere else at the moment you need to get another bus and pay another fare. These changes will save pensioners and the council money."

The committee's recommendations are expected to be approved by the Labour controlled executive on January 13. There will then be a four-month consultation process before they can be introduced.

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