Elderly residents in Kent could be charged for travelling in rural areas despite having free bus passes.

According to a report by Kent County Council, those with a concessionary pass may have to "contribute to the cost of some of their journeys" in rural areas where bus routes are "not commercially viable".

Councils often subsidise bus services that don't make a profit for operators if the routes are deemed "socially necessary".

KCC helps fund additional services of established bus routes such as later journeys or adding an extra day to the timetable.

However 97% of routes in Kent would not be affected by the proposals as they are commercially funded.

KCC also pays for concessionary bus passes which allow residents who are reliant on public transport to travel for free at off-peak times.

As part of plans to streamline the £7 million budget spent to keep 126 routes afloat, KCC has consulted residents about possibilities of adding taxis or dial-a-ride vehicles to bus routes, which may not accept the bus passes.

The Government provides local authorities with more than £250 million every year for bus services, including £40 million for the subsidised routes.

However KCC says its budget needs to be cut by £64 million due to cuts in central government grants.

Kent County Council spokesman Thom Morris said: “KCC is not removing the use of the older person’s/disabled bus pass and have no intention of changing this policy.

“As part of the consultation, we have asked a question about whether residents would be prepared to contribute to a service that could be better than the one they currently use.

“There are some areas within the county that do not have access to a bus service, meaning residents may have to pay a lot more to travel to their destination, for instance using a taxi, as they are unable to use their bus pass.

“Their current bus service may also not meet their needs in terms of frequency or destination.”

Councillors on the transport cabinet committee will discuss these plans on Thursday, September 20.