MORE than 11,000 pensioners and disabled people could lose free taxi travel under cost-cutting plans, sparking fears that rural residents will be left isolated.

But all county pensioners would be able to use free bus passes from 9am, instead of 9.30am, under the proposals.

Oxfordshire County Council wants to scrap travel tokens, which OAPs in some parts of the county can opt for instead of a free bus pass.

The option is often taken up in areas where there are few or no bus services.

The tokens were offered by South Oxfordshire, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell district councils, but are set to be scrapped when the county takes over administration of the bus pass and free travel scheme in April.

The tokens are worth up to £40 a year. Scrapping them will save £297,000 a year.

It is the latest blow to pensioners after the county council also proposed stopping free bus pass use on its dial-a-ride transport service and charging a fare of £4 to £6 instead.

Day centre travel charges are also set to rise.

Oxfordshire Pensioners Action Group secretary Michael Hugh-Jones said: “The plan to abolish the token amounts to discrimination against the disabled.

“They don’t mind able-bodied pensioners travelling as much as they like, but won’t pay for taxis, because they must be paid 100 per cent by the council.”

Disability campaigner Gwynneth Pedler, 85, said: “For some people, particularly in rural areas, they will never get out, because they rely on taxis.”

But Colin Walsh, chairman of disabled campaign group Transport for All, said the tokens were not worth enough.

Mr Walsh, who lost his sight 17 years ago, said: “The tokens are of such little value they would not pay for more than a couple of taxis a month.

“I’m as disabled as anybody, but we have all got to try to give up something, and this is fairly nominal.

“The bus passes are so much greater in terms of value.”

Council cabinet member for growth and infrastructure, Ian Hudspeth, said the change in the scheme was needed to help cope with spending cuts.

He added that allowing bus passes to be used from 9am would benefit thousands of OAPs in south Oxfordshire, where pensioners currently only get free travel after 9.30am.

This change will cost an estimated £70,000 a year.

Mr Hudspeth added: “We’re expecting a national reduction in funding.

“In this context, the extra half-hour of free bus travel represents a real benefit for thousands of elderly and disabled bus pass holders.

“We’re aware of concerns raised by people currently taking up options such as the dial-a-ride service in some parts of the county. We’re consulting passholder representatives.”

A final decision will be made next year.