BRADFORDIANS are being urged to back a national campaign asking the Government to commit to retaining free bus passes for the elderly following the General Election in May.

Organised by the National Pensioners' Convention, more than 150,000 people had signed the 'Love the Bus Pass' petition when it was delivered to Downing Street in September, and the group wants to top 250,000 signatures before presenting the document again in March.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), responsible for the £1 billion West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund, said it was "committed" to providing concessionary travel, and local pensioner's groups have said it would be a "tragedy" if the free passes were lost.

John Mawdesley, a former transport spokesman for the Bradford Older People's Alliance, was part of a two-year campaign to secure a free shuttle bus service around the city in 2008.

"I have taken a back seat from campaigning in recent years, but as a pensioner, I would be very disappointed to see the bus passes withdrawn," he said.

"It would be a tragedy for older people.

"Some people would be left on their own at home, unable to go anywhere, and that might then affect their health.

"Bus companies would also suffer a huge slump in passenger numbers, especially during the day, but I don't know if they get enough from the government to subsidise the passes."

Pam James, chairman of Open House for Seniors in Bradford and Ilkley, said bus passes were vital to prevent loneliness and social isolation among elderly people.

"I realise there's not a huge pot of money for everything, but it would be terrible if the passes were to go, and I would fight to keep them," she said.

"They are really important in allowing that generation to continue to get out and about."

According to figures from the WYCA, 140,000 elderly people currently use concessionary bus passes on a regular basis across the county.

The annual costs of providing the passes is said to be £44.5million, but the authority hinted it would continue to do so regardless of any potential change to government policy.

A WYCA spokesman said: "The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is committed to providing concessionary travel, before national free travel was introduced, Metro’s scheme was better than the statutory requirement."

The 'Love the Bus Pass' campaign co-ordinator, Richard Worrall, based in Walsall, said there was a "widespread trepidation" about the future of concessionary travel for elderly, blind, and disabled people in the run-up to May's election and beyond.

"To date, no political party has made a clear and unequivocal commitment to retaining the bus pass as a statutory requirement," he said.

"We simply must ensure that all politicians understand they attack the bus pass at their electoral peril."

To request petition forms and campaign material, call 01922 641084.