Clegg thinks pensioners should give up benefits

Ha! If she got the same bus drivers as we have around here, they'd probably take one look at her and let her on without paying. When I left my pass in another handbag, the driver looked at me and believed I was a senior citizen - can't think why.

Where I live, we are an equal distance from Chester and Shrewsbury, for serious (winter coat or boots-type) shopping.

We used to use our OAP bus passes on the Park and Ride at either, but now Shrewsbury P&R wont accept them. So of course, we always go to Chester. We travel out of rush hour, and usually have a coffee and snack - it makes a nice day out, quite important for hubby, who does get out much (I am more mobile).

The P&R provides the same regular service all day, whether the bus is filled with pensioners, or empty. They do issue a ticket. I'm not sure what Cardinal Sin we are committing, but can see the time when we will be stuck at home, or adding to the congestion in inner city parking areas.

And Chester gets the benefit of your spending, while Shrewsbury will be complaing of failing retail shops and cafes.

I can understand them being reluctant to have rush-hour buses full of pensioners out on a spree, but when they are going to town in empty buses to spend money, why not? It is not joined-up planning.

How many pensioners want to travel jammed in with sweaty commuters clutching lap-top bags anyway?

There are no loos on buses so a bus pass is no use to me. I have a railcard though and use that a fair bit but it isn't FREE. To be honest I don't believe things should be totally free. A token payment makes something worthwhile and not 'expected' or 'throwaway'. And yes, I feel that about public toilets too. One tends to respect something that you have to pay for. Vandals usually don't destroy what they've spent money on themselves! I'm embarrassed to receive a winter fuel payment - it's degrading. Like an earlier GN, our pensions should be hiked up to include all these 'benefits'.