Councillors team up to propose free public transport for all

TWO councillors are proposing that Shetland Islands Council explore the costs associated with providing free bus and inter-island ferry travel for all.

Shetland South members Alex Armitage and Robbie McGregor – from the Greens and SNP respectively – have teamed up to present a motion to a meeting of the full council on 23 November.

If their motion gains enough support from colleagues then council officers would look into the feasibility of providing free public transport to everyone.

The motion “acknowledges the urgent need to provide further practical solutions to help Shetlanders with the rising cost of living and the need to reduce carbon emissions”.

The two councillors say free transport could be a solution that is “affordable and deliverable within a short time frame”.

They also want to see a possible timescale for implementation in 2023.

At the moment people who are over 60 or meet disability criteria can get a bus pass for free journeys.

Meanwhile a new national scheme was introduced by the Scottish Government earlier this year – which was pushed forward by the Greens – giving people aged between five and 21 free bus travel.

However pressure to get inter-island ferry journeys included in that young people scheme did not bear fruit.

On the council ferries disabled concessionary pass holders can travel for free.