Croydon Council is proposing to end its discretionary Disabled Persons Freedom Pass scheme for new applicants, a move that could strip vulnerable residents of free travel across London and has sparked fears of increased isolation. The scheme, which provides free travel within the city for residents receiving local social care who do not qualify for the statutory Freedom Pass, is under threat as part of a series of cost-saving measures outlined in the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for the next four years.
Scheme Details and Eligibility
The discretionary scheme is open to residents aged 18 to 59 with a physical disability or severe mental illness who are supported by Croydon Council’s social services or South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Recipients must also use the pass to help achieve the goals set out in their care plan. The statutory Freedom Pass, by contrast, gives eligible disabled people free travel across England.
According to council reports, existing statutory passholders and disabled residents who meet the national eligibility criteria would be unaffected, with their current travel rights unchanged. However, those who rely on the discretionary pass and do not meet the statutory criteria would lose access to free travel if the proposal is approved.
Financial Pressures and Savings
The council expects the scheme’s closure to save £90,000 in 2028/29 and a further £50,000 in 2029/30, contributing to a wider £83.7m four-year package aimed at stabilising the borough’s finances. The savings, which also include planned cuts to the council tax support scheme, come as Croydon Council faces mounting debt via Exceptional Financial Support, which government-appointed commissioners have warned could reach £900m by 2030.
The council is also facing rising regional costs, including a required £1.35m annual increase in its contribution to Transport for London’s pan-London Freedom Pass scheme. The proposed changes to the discretionary travel scheme and other non-statutory services are expected to take effect if the council’s budget is approved in February.
Criticism and Concerns
Disability rights advocates have warned that restricting access to free public transport could isolate vulnerable residents and limit their ability to reach essential health services. Croydon’s opposition parties have also criticised the proposals.
Croydon Green Party Councillor Mark Adderley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I think it’s fair to say it’s utterly outrageous and once again demonstrates a total lack of humanistic or holistic thinking when it comes to the most needy in Croydon. What amounts to penny pinching (relative to the likely savings made) runs the very real risk of massively curtailing the quality of life for those Croydon adults already living with physical or mental health issues. Increased isolation amongst the more vulnerable sectors of society is already a huge cause for concern, this cut will potentially leave even more vulnerable adults feeling as though they have been completely forgotten by the system.”
Council’s Response and Next Steps
The council maintains that difficult spending decisions are necessary to demonstrate financial discipline to commissioners overseeing the borough’s financial recovery. The council’s budget report also states that many London boroughs have already phased out discretionary disabled travel concessions to focus on meeting statutory minimum requirements.
“Croydon’s current scheme is more generous than those offered by many other London boroughs, providing discretionary Disabled Persons Freedom Passes beyond the statutory requirements,” a council spokesperson said. “Given the significant financial challenges facing the council, we have to make difficult decisions about what we can continue to afford. Bringing this provision into line with the approach taken by most other boroughs is therefore a reasonable step to consider as we work to secure the council’s long-term financial stability.”
The spokesperson added: “Where residents may qualify for a mandatory Disabled Persons Freedom Pass, we would work closely with applicants and healthcare partners to support that transition, alongside offering advice on alternative Transport for London concessions.” The council added that the plans remain at the draft consultation stage, with a final decision expected early next year.
