CARERS on low incomes will be hit hard if their free bus pass is scrapped, a Tory councillor has claimed.

Surrey County Council says it is one of the few areas left in the country that still offers free bus passes for companions of people with a disability who need help to travel. But one of the proposals as part of its major consultation into the future of travel, libraries, SEND services and recycling centres is to scrap this concession.

Hours for when a disability bus pass is valid will also be limited to between 9.30am and 11pm, which the council estimates will save around £400,000 a year.

Speaking out against the proposals, Christine Richardson, Conservative member of Elmbridge Borough Council – whose leader Tim Oliver took over as Surrey leader last week – says scrapping the free pass will have a big impact.

She said: “The whole point of giving carers a free bus pass is because they are on such a low income in the first place and they need to get the person they are caring for to hospital appointments.

“Taking money away from these people is doing them a disservice when they are really struggling to look after with people with special needs.”

Other cost-cutting proposals set out by Surrey, which needs to make a further £200m savings between now and 2021, include closing children’s centres, libraries and recycling centres. The consultation runs until January 4.