Pensioners groups in Borehamwood are urging the borough council to go ahead with plans to keep its free-to-use Zonal Bus Pass.

Last week Hertsmere Borough Council said it was considering keeping the Zonal pass scheme going in 2003/4, but increasing the cost to users.

Previously the council had said it would scrap the Zonal pass completely, and offer half-fare passes instead.

It had already agreed to pay £59.70 towards each half-fare pass, and has now offered to pay the same amount towards Zonal passes if users are willing to make up the difference.

It would mean the cost of Zonal passes rising by 251 per cent, from £36 in 2002/3 to £126.70 in 2003/4, but would still work out much cheaper for people who use buses on a daily basis.

The total cost of the pass this year is £186.70, compared to £177 last year.

The decision on whether to keep the Zonal pass scheme going was made at the council's Executive meeting on Wednesday, and Fiona Gibbs, project manager at the Community Advocacy Project, hopes the council will vote in favour of the new pass.

"I think at this point this is the best offer that the borough council has come back with, and quite a few people have said they are willing to take it up. Ultimately they would have liked their £36 bus pass back, but they are realising that the borough has not got that as an option.

"The positive thing is that the council has talked to us about this, and come to some sort of compromise," she said, adding: "I think maybe this is the beginning of getting them to listen to what people are saying, and negotiating with them."

John Brown, from the Borehamwood Pensioners Rights Association is campaigning for all pensioners in Britain to be given free-to-use, no cost bus passes, but in the meantime was in favour of the Zonal pass being kept, as it would help people who use buses regularly.

Martin Neve, Hertsmere's head of revenues, said: "This arrangement has been put together in a very short time, and very much at the request of the public, particularly the Borehamwood Community Advocacy Project and the Borehamwood Pensioners Rights Association.

"We would like to thank Carol Jones and John Brown, who represented these groups, for their help in getting this off the ground."

If the council votes in favour of bringing in the new Zonal pass people will be able to pay for it with monthly instalments, added to their Council Tax bills.

For information about applying for the new pass call 020 8207 7407.