It's Plymouth or bust for Ken

6:43pm Wednesday 2nd April 2008

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A PENSIONER will road test a new concessionary bus scheme by taking a nine-hour trip to Plymouth.

Ken Trenerry, 79, will change six times during the trip, which will take him through Wells, Frome, Taunton, Tiverton and Exeter.

He will have to use a temporary pass to complete the journey because, like thousands of pensioners in Swindon, his permanent pass still hasn't arrived.

Mr Trenerry, from Upham Road, is taking the trip to visit his niece, who lives in the Devon city.

The journey will take approximately 175 miles, meaning that Ken will be travelling at a snail's pace of 19.5 miles an hour.

He said: "I'm looking forward to it. It's a bit of a trek but when you've got plenty of time you don't really mind."

Ken, a long-standing environmental campaigner and founder member of the Swindon Climate Action Network (SCAN), is keen to promote the use of public transport.

He said: "Being an ex-BMW employee I can't say I'm anti-car.

"My theme is to use the car less, walk or use public transport when possible.

"I've always found the bus service to be very good, although I'm lucky in that where I live is on a regular bus route.

"I think the new bus pass is a great idea. To have the freedom to travel around the country for free is wonderful."

As reported in the Adver yesterday the launch of the concessionary bus pass scheme, which gives free off-peak travel to people over 60 and the disabled, was marred by the failure to deliver the passes on time.

A number of pensioners contacted the Adver complaining that their passes still had not been delivered.

Brian Breakspear, from Even Swindon, said: "I sent my renewal off within two days of getting it. Neither I nor my wife have received our new passes yet.

"Yet another outsourcing blunder."

Don Phillips said: "I'm not holding my breath because this is typical of anything this council attempts to do."

Davina Giles, from Cricklade, said her 79-year-old mother was still waiting.

"Despite being nearly 80 she uses the buses for two or three trips a week so she is a bit cross at the moment," she said.

Mike Hallaway, from Park North, said: "In this age of technology there is a tendency to pass the buck and blame the computer."

"When are the general public going to be told some truth about problems and someone being willing to accept responsibility?"