Public events confirmed to help residents renew their bus passes

The Council has announced details of 32 public events throughout November 2019, where residents can ‘drop in’ to popular community locations and receive help in renewing their Concessionary Bus Passes. 

Transport for Wales is working with Welsh Government and Councils throughout Wales to roll out a new-style Concessionary Travel Card by December 31, 2019. This periodic process, which started in September 2019, will replace 750,000 passes – most of which are now 10 years old. Residents are reassured that their existing green bus passes will work up until the December 31 deadline.

The quickest and easiest way for residents to renew their pass is to complete an application on Transport for Wales’ website – www.tfw.gov.uk/travelcards. Transport for Wales’ has advised it will take at least a month for new cards to arrive once the application is successfully completed, due to high demand.

The Council is providing targeted help for residents who may need assistance with completing their application, or accessing online services.

Every Council library in Rhondda Cynon Taf is offering dedicated online access sessions each Tuesday and Friday, while all One4aLL Centres have limited pre-booked sessions available for help with completing applications.

The Council previously announced it would be organising a programme of ‘drop-in’ events across the County Borough, where Officers will be on hand to help residents complete their applications. These will take place from Monday, November 4 – and the full list of 32 events is included below.

In order to complete their applications at any of the events, residents must bring with them their:

• Existing bus pass number.
• Home postcode.
• National Insurance number.
• Date of birth.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transportation, said: “I’m pleased that the Council has been able to organise these 32 events across Rhondda Cynon Taf, to help residents through each step of the application. This is in addition to the help already being given each Tuesday and Friday in our libraries, along with our One4aLL Centres by appointment.

“Since Transport for Wales’ application portal opened, more than 25,000 applications have been completed from residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf, which is favourable in comparison to other Local Authority areas.

“Renewing your bus pass is a simple process through Transport for Wales’ website, however, we are aware that some residents may not be able to complete their application – which is why we are offering this additional help in accessible community landmarks right across the County Borough.

“I’d like to reassure residents that their existing Council-issued bus passes will continue to work up until December 31, so there is plenty of time to complete this process and for the new cards to arrive.”

The following events have been organised by the Council: