A TASK force set up to look at concessionary travel in Swindon has recommended a scheme which does not include free train travel.

The unanimous decision has angered campaigning pensioner Frank Avenell, who says Swindon Borough Council is going against the instructions of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott by recommending the scheme.

Mr Avenell, of the Fairness for Pensioners Campaign, says he is extremely unhappy at the decision taken by the task force, which was set up by the council to look at the issue of concessionary travel in the borough.

Members of the task force were given two options for concessionary travel within the borough.

The first option gave people who qualified for concessionary fares the chance to opt for a magnetic card with £40 of travel for bus journeys, £60 of travel tokens for the mobility impaired, but no concessions for rail fares.

The second option the task force had was to go for a scheme which included a free voucher for a senior railcard and token system of £45 for the mobility impaired, with an eventual increase to £60.

At a meeting this week, the task force, made up of Swindon councillors, unanimously voted for option one.

Mr Avenell is urging members of the public to go to the meeting on Tuesday, which is being held at the civic offices at 7pm, when the recommendations are being looked at by the policy commission.

The report from the meeting said: "This option provides the best value for money and benefits those who most need concessionary travel and would be especially beneficial and socially inclusive for those living closer to the town centre.

"It would also concentrate concessionary fares revenue within the local area."

The recommendations of the task group will go before the policy commission on Tuesday, October 24, for approval.

Mr Avenell is angry that the task force has recommended option one.

He said: "When Mr Prescott announced extra money for public transport he specified that all forms of transport, including trains should receive the money.

"The council is not providing any funding for trains, so they are going against the instructions of Mr Prescott."

Mr Avenell says by not providing any extra concessions on trains, the council is taking away the choice for those people who want to travel by train.

"There are a lot of senior citizens who want the choice of being able to go away on the train, to places like Bath and Weston, with the proposed scheme, we are not being given this choice."