SO pensioners are to get £50 worth of travel tokens this year (February 9). Think again.

From what I recall in 2001 pensioners could, if they wished, exchange their travel tokens (£24), add another £6 and buy a bus pass which entitled them to reduced fares on local services. What a good idea and many must have bought them.

Because those bus passes expire some five years ahead, say 2006, will those same pensioners now get the £50 for travel this year and will they also be able to use them along with their bus pass?

If you have a bus pass you then pay cash for your travel - drivers do not take tokens in lieu of cash so it means those who already have a pass should be either paid the difference of £30 towards travel or City of York Council could surprise me by paying them £50 in tokens.

It would be interesting to know what percentage of pensioners do not even bother to collect their tokens.

Audrey Spence,

Bramham Road, York.

Updated: 10:01 Thursday, February 26, 2004