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BUS PASS
A disabled man who relies on public transport was refused permission to board five buses because drivers did not recognise his new bus pass. John Spare of Shelmory Close, Allenton, was the victim of a blunder by Derby City Council, which did not send samples of the new passes to bus companies. Mr Spare is profoundly deaf and qualifies for a travel concession permit which allows him to use Trent and Arriva bus services and some train services for free. He was issued with his new bus pass after reading a council notice which advised holders to renew their permits from September 27 at the Post Office or the Council House. After picking up the new pass from Derby’s Victoria Street Post Office, Mr Spare went to get on a number 69 Arriva bus to Allenton but was refused passage because the driver said he did not recognise his pass.

Mr Spare also attempted to board a Trent bus but was met with the same response. On inquiring about the problem at the bus station in Morledge, he was told to go to the Council House to sort it out. At the Council Houses he was given a written notice, which confirmed the new pass was valid from September 27. Mr Spare said, “It is totally unacceptable that this has happened when all I did was follow the instructions that were given to me. For the authorities not to have informed the bus companies of what is a major change is a terrible error and I am disgusted with the treatment I received.” Since his ordeal, Mr Spare had to get both Arriva and Trent to write a travel note, which he has to show drivers.

Pat Ethelston, Derby City Council’s chief engineer, said, “We have been encouraging people to renew their passes in good time but did not anticipate the passes coming into use until November 1. We have not yet sent samples of the new passes to the bus companies so that is why their drivers would not have recognised it, but we will be taking steps to make sure the sample is sent in the next couple of days.” Melvyn Hopwood, Head of Communications for Trent Buses, said, “The scheme itself is owned and run by the city council and we simply follow the guidelines they give us and our drivers are under strict instructions to follow these.” Nobody was available for comment from Arriva.
CLAIMS
People suing the councils in Derbyshire for personal injury are diverting nearly £1m of taxpayers' money away from public services. And Derby City Council has paid out £57,692 for 63 personal injury claims relating to the year 2001/2 and £154 for three claims in 2002/3. People have up to six years after an incident to make a claim and so these figures could rise even further. Figures from the Local Government Association have revealed that, of 212 councils surveyed, 87 per cent said the number of claims had risen in recent years. Councils set aside a budget for claims, some of which is eaten up by lawyers' fees.

Authorities can either self-insure, which makes them liable for the costs, or use an insurance company. Using an insurance firm can be very costly for councils, as they pay an excess on claims. The majority of personal injury cases against councils come from people claiming for trips, slips and falls on roads and pavements. County council spokesman John Fern said the council had taken over responsibility for more roads since 2001/02, which had led to "a lot more" claims. He added, "If the claims weren't there, then the money could be spent on other things within the authority."
       


LOCAL COUNCILLORS FOR DERBY 2

Derwent

Margaret Redfern
2 Uplands Avenue, Littleover, Derby, DE23 7GE.
Tel: 01332 769551 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: margaret.redfern@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Labour

Dave Roberts
14 Radcliffe Avenue, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 6NN.
Tel: 01332 726454 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: dave.roberts@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Labour

Suman Gupta
51 Breedon Hill Road, Derby, DE23 6TH.
Tel: 01332 364530 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: suman.gupta@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Labour

Littleover

Les Allen
17 South Avenue, Littleover, Derby, DE23 6BA.
Tel: 01332 775426 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: Not Available
Affiliation: Liberal Democrat

Michael Carr
13 Middleton Avenue, Littleover, Derby, DE23 6DW.
Tel: 01332 605193 | Office Tel: 01332 637549
Email: michael.carr@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Liberal Democrat

Lucy Care
8 Kings Drive, Littleover, Derby, DE23 6EU.
Tel: Not Available | Office Tel: 01332 721291
Email: lucy.care@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Liberal Democrat

Mackworth

Lonny Wilsoncroft
Queen Mary Lodge, Duffield Road, Derby, DE22 1AA.
Tel: 01332 382186 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: lonny.wilsoncroft@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Labour

Ray Baxter
6 Hanwell Way, Derby, DE22 4AD.
Tel: 01332 361800 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: Not Available
Affiliation: Labour

Richard Gerrard
'Highfield', 12 Thames Close, Mackworth, Derby, DE22 4HT.
Tel: 01332 511012 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: richard.gerrard@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Labour

Mickleover

Hilary Jones
104 Chain Lane, Littleover, Derby, DE23 7EB.
Tel: Not Available | Office Tel: 01332 521061
Email: hilary.jones@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Liberal Democrat

Margaret Hird
40 Bradwell Close, Mickleover, Derby, DE3 9DY.
Tel: 01332 523372 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: margaret.hird@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Liberal Democrat

Fay Winter
227 Ladybank Road, Mickleover, Derby, DE3 0RR.
Tel: Not Available | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: fay.winter@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Liberal Democrat

Normanton

Amar Nath
40 Howard Street, Derby, DE23 6TX.
Tel: 01332 360725 | Office Tel: 01332 362809
Email: amar.nath@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Labour

Ashok Kalia
33 Squires Way, Littleover, Derby, DE23 7XB.
Tel: 01332 523665 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: ashok.kalia@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Labour

Chris Williamson
Members Services, The Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS.
Tel: 01332 382186 | Office Tel: 01332 255106
Email: chris.williamson@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Labour

Oakwood

Pauline Latham OBE
Hierons Wood, Vicarage Lane, Little Eaton, Derby, DE21 5EA.
Tel: TBC | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: pauline.latham@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Conservative

Richard Smalley
17 Woodrising Close, Oakwood, Derby, DE21 2SS.
Tel: 01332 830593 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: rjstraderuk.aol.com
Affiliation: Conservative

Paul West
14 Furzebrook Road, Colwich,
Tel: Not Available | Office Tel: 01332 280043
Email: paul.west@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Conservative

Sinfin

Prem Chera
109 Clarence Road, Derby, DE23 6LS.
Tel: 01332 271478 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: Not Available
Affiliation: Labour

Hardial Singh Dhamrait
Apna Ghar, 674 Burton Road, Derby, DE23 6EL.
Tel: 01332 297283 | Office Tel: 01332 772795
Email: hardial.dhamrait@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Labour

Robin Turner
10 Ridgeway Avenue, Littleover, Derby, DE23 7GB.
Tel: Not Available | Office Tel: 01332 773354
Email: robin.turner@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Labour

Spondon

Evonne Berry
12 Oxford Street, Spondon, Derby, DE21 7JL.
Tel: 01332 730183 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: evonne.berry@derby.gov.uk
Affiliation: Conservative

Colin Brown
12 Devas Gardens, Spondon, Derby, DE21 7AD.
Tel: 01332 733872 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: Not Available
Affiliation: Conservative

Peter Berry
5 Gilbert Close, Spondon, Derby, DE21 7GP.
Tel: 01332 675265 | Office Tel: Not Available
Email: Not Available
Affiliation: Conservative

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