By Janine Griffiths
Telford & Wrekin Council bosses have said sorry for a letter sent out to senior citizens in Telford telling them to hand back their free bus passes if they did not want their personal details to be passed on.
Chief Executive Steve Wellings said they were writing again to all concessionary travel pass holders to apologise for any confusion caused by the wording of an earlier letter.
The letter was informing residents about the council having to take part in a national information sharing process, run by the national Audit Commission, which includes concessionary travel.
Mr Wellings said: “Some people have unfortunately concluded from our earlier letter that if they do not want us to share the information about their applications with the Audit Commission, then they would lose entitlement to their bus pass.
“I want to stress that this is not the case - they are entitled to their bus pass regardless of whether we share their details or not.
“If people do not want us to share their details with the Audit Commission, then they need to let us know formally. We will have to see their bus pass so that we can change our records.”
Concessionary travel pass holders can either go in person to the Travelink office at Telford bus station, with their pass to do this, or they can send in their pass with a letter and it will be returned as soon as the details have been changed.
Mr Wellings added: “We are really sorry if this has worried anyone because the previous letter was not clear enough.”
“I would like to emphasise that the council has to do this and we have been assured by the Audit Commission that their information systems are safe and secure.”
Telford MP David Wright said: “I’m very pleased that the council has clarified the situation.
“The previous letter sent out by the council worried a lot of people.
“All senior citizens are entitled to concessionary bus travel in England.”
