16 December 2013

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

CONSULTATION on the possible withdrawal of the East Grinstead Town Council annual £3.30 discount on Senior Citizen Railcards from April 2014.

The consultation has now finished.

Why is this proposed?

The Council have provided a subsidy of £3.30 for a number of years. This is paid for out of the council tax precept, approximately £2,200 per year. From April 2014 the administration of the rail passes will change and the town council will no longer issue these. They will be issued directly by ATOC the administration company. ATOC currently give a discount of 15% to all Mid Sussex District Residents who are eligible for the card. This discount is worth £4.50. East Grinstead residents currently receive an additional £3.30 on top of this making their total discount £7.80.

Mid Sussex District have been offered an increased discount of 20% if the Town Council removes its discount. This will apply to all Mid Sussex eligible residents. This new discount will make the total discount £6. East Grinstead residents will therefore have to pay an additional £1.80 per year for their rail card. However the Town Council will no longer be paying this from the Council Tax precept.

How many people are affected and by how much?

Currently around 620 passes are bought by eligible residents each year. The passes cost £22.20 for the year after the discount and allow the user to have 1/3 off rail tickets for travel after 9.00am. The changes will mean that the pass costs £24.00, but they will still get the 1/3 discount off the rail fare for the whole year. If the subsidy is removed the £2200 budget can be put in to other projects that could benefit all East Grinstead residents. There will also be some administrative saving as the Council will not have to process the subsidy payments to ATOC.

What happens next?

The Council are considering withdrawing the subsidy from April 2014. If you wish to make a comment on this proposal you may write to the Town Clerk at East Grinstead Town Council, East Court, East Grinstead, RH19 3LT. or email townclerk@eastgrinstead.gov.uk. Please ensure that your email has the subject “Rail Card Subsidy”. Representations must be received by 20th January 2014.

The consultation has now finished.