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The Tory Cabinet on Shepway District Council clearly does not have the best interests of pensioners at heart claim Shepway Lib Dems.

Shepway's Cabinet has imposed a time alteration for holders of a free Bus Pass, and from April the earliest a Bus Pass holder can travel free of charge will be 9.30am, half an hour later than the current time of nine o'clock.

Hythe Lib Dem campaigner Neil Matthews said: "This will make it more difficult for many pensioners to get to early commitments, including work, medical appointments and social care.

"The Cabinet clearly places the benefit of green travel and pensioners' well-being very low down on its priority list. With the Council Tax rise very likely to outstrip the pension increase again this year you just can't afford to retire."

Neil has written to Cllr Pam Carr, the Conservative District Secretary for Customer Services, asking why this timetable change has been made and how much it will save the Council.

Darren Briddock, Hythe Lib Dem campaigner, commented: "I suspect this move is a cost saving exercise and will force early bus travellers either to pay for their trip, get their car out or not travel at all."