SOUTH Yorkshire’s heroic Freedom Riders have submitted a blueprint to transport chiefs for the restoration of free travel for pensioners and disabled people.

Transport authority bosses met in Rotherham on Monday night to consider next year’s budget — which includes another 10 per cent cut in government funding.

The authority intends to axe travel information centres, reduce cleaning of bus stations and shelters, abolish paper timetables and abandon a public transport promotion project.

More than 30 Freedom Riders attended the meeting.

Tony Nuttall of Barnsley Retirees Action Group, which launched the Freedom Riders, told the meeting that unless older people were supported to get out and be part of the community, they would be more isolated and suffer more illness.

He proposed a short period of free bus travel for pensioners and disabled people every morning, introduction of a £10 “free travel” rail card, and use of some of the transport authority’s reserves of £12.2 million.

He said the total cost of fully restoring the free bus and rail travel would be £600,000.

The authority is considering the proposals.