Leading Conservative Councillors will next week table a motion calling on the City Council to back the concerns being expressed by service users about a proposed membership scheme for the popular Ring & Ride service.
The proposals, which are currently being consulted on by local passenger transport authority Centro, would see a two stage membership scheme implemented. All existing users of Ring & Ride would be required to apply for membership to continue using this valuable service.
Local Conservative Councillors are concerned about what this proposal could mean for many Ring & Ride users in Coventry. They also fear that the proposed membership scheme could see funds taken away from providing the service to administer a new bureaucracy around it. In light of this they are calling on the City Council to respond to the consultation being conducted by Centro supporting the concerns of service users.
Cllr Julia LePoidevin (Woodlands), who will propose the motion, said: “Ring & Ride is a service valued by many older people in our city and something they rely on. The proposed membership scheme, with its two stages, is causing a lot of concern to some very vulnerable residents. Whilst I accept changes are needed to improve the service and make it more efficient, this is not the best way of doing so. I hope Centro will think again and engage with services users and providers to find a way of achieving their goals without spending more money on back office administration, rather than front line services.”
Cllr Hazel Noonan (Cheylesmore), who along with her Cheylesmore colleague Cllr Kevin Foster has already written to Centro’s Chief Executive expressing her concerns, said: “I know many older people who use this service and for them it is their key way to get out and about. Since the consultation was launched I have had a number of residents contact me expressing concerns about the way this membership scheme might operate, in particular who may be excluded. I have already written asking Centro to think again and I hope the whole Council will support this call next week.”