DISABLED bus pass holders are among those who fear new “discriminatory” rules coming into place will stop them from getting to work.

Benjamin Thompson-Jones travels from Amesbury to work in Salisbury. He was shocked to discover that from April 1 he will no longer be able to use his free bus pass before 9.30am because Wiltshire Council is limiting the times free bus passes can be used.

Mr Thompson-Jones, who is paralysed on his left side and works at Salisbury District Hospital, said: “The only way I can get to work is by bus.

“How can I pay the bus tickets - I have barely got enough. I won’t be able to work.”

He added: “Every disabled person will be going through the same thing. It is discrimination and preventing disabled people from working.”

Similar concerns were echoed by Mark and Clare Sines, whose son has Asperger’s syndrome and uses his bus pass to get to an apprenticeship in Wilton.

Mr Sines, who also uses a bus pass because of his spinal injuries, fears these changes will impact on his son’s apprenticeship. “Our son needs to travel to his work place by bus and has to be there by 9am and with the proposed changes he will not be able to get to his work placement.

“If he has a bad day he will need a carer to travel with him and therefore the cost of him and his carer will be too great to maintain on the salary he gets for his apprenticeship.

“Therefore, he will have to stop going to his work placement, if he is unable to use his bus pass for which he met the strict criteria to obtain.”says his son has benefited immensely from his apprenticeship.

He said: “We have fought to keep him at his apprenticeship and this is not going to help at all.”

Mr Sines added: “Hundreds of people throughout Salisbury and Wiltshire are going to suffer because Wiltshire Council has decided just because they have got a disability, are elderly, or have a mental health problem or learning disability that they can’t go about their business until after 9.30am. The council can’t dictate when you can use the bus.

The couple have been in touch with local councillors and MP John Glen about the changes.

“This is going to have a massive impact on vulnerable people who have a bus pass and rely on public transport to keep their independence. When cuts have to be made, the vulnerable get hit first.”

A council spokesman said: “We understand these changes may cause some issues for a limited number of people.

"We have brought our policy in line with that of neighbouring authorities, and there will still be free travel available after 9.30am and all weekend."

“Before this decision was made we carried out a full equality impact assessment and an extensive consultation.

“This included writing to organisations who deal with disabled and elderly people, so we could take their concerns into account.”

Anyone wishing to get involved in the petition is urged to contact Mrs Sine via reporter Katy Griffin by emailing katy.griffin@salisburyjournal.co.uk