Disabled villagers claim they are being victimised by their parish council following cuts to free public transport, writes Tim Hughes.

People in Berinsfield have criticised moves by parish councillors to slash soaring rates by cutting back on aid to the disabled. For six years, Berinsfield parish council has given free bus tokens to elderly and disabled people living in the village. The extra tokens were handed out in addition to those given by South Oxfordshire District Council, and allowed free transport on buses, trains and taxis.

But parish councillors have now decided to stop giving the tokens to the disabled as part of cost-cutting measures, aimed at lowering council tax bills. But Diane Mainland, 45, of Roman Road, Berinsfield, said that the move had upset many villagers.

She said: "It is an outrage. Every pensioner will still get tokens, but if you have got no legs, you get nothing. It is so wrong." Another disabled villager, Gary Woolnough, 34, of Abbey Woods Close, said: "This is unfair.

"I think the council should treat elderly and disabled people the same."

But the chairman of Berinsfield Parish Council, Ken Hall, denied that the council had acted unfairly.

He said: "I cannot accept that we are victimising the disabled. That is not fair. We are trying to give everyone a fair deal."

Story date: Tuesday 04 May

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