FENLAND Council is hoping a solution can be agreed to enable free travel for the over 60s across Cambridgeshire. The leader, Councillor Geoff Harper, told the annual council meeting that he agreed the present system of free travel within the district only

FENLAND Council is hoping a solution can be agreed to enable free travel for the over 60s across Cambridgeshire.

The leader, Councillor Geoff Harper, told the annual council meeting that he agreed the present system of free travel within the district only was unfair.

Despite Fenland increasing the amount of money being put into the scheme, it was down to the Government in reality to achieve a solution, he said.

Councillors were told meetings were now being arranged with other district councils to see if a county-wide scheme is possible sooner rather than later. In 2008 the Government will be introducing an enlarged scheme.

Councillor Mac Cotterell said the council was bound by Government rulings which he agreed were unfair. It was, he said, not simply for the councils to sort out but for the bus companies, too.

"Some bus companies won't accept the passes," he said.

Both councillors were responding to a question from Labour leader, Councillor Steve Cawthorne, about the introduction of the new concessionary scheme.