MORE than 10,000 York pensioners who rely on public transport have received a festive bus pass boost.

Elderly folk who regularly use buses in the city will welcome news that popular pensioner travel passes will be available next year at the current rate.

But City of York council leader Steve Galloway stated that pensioners could not be completely protected from council tax increases which, the authority says, must be about ten per cent if substantial cuts in services are to be avoided.

Coun Galloway today confirmed that the "day rover" ticket for pensioners and disabled passengers will still be 50p. The price of the ticket is shortly set to rise to £2.30 - but passes will still allow holders to snap up a ticket at the reduced rate.

He said nearly 15,000 residents held these passes and added: "The improved deal passes have proved to be very popular.

"We want to see our senior citizens continue to have good travel arrangements."

But he warned that the city's growing elderly population could not be completely protected from hikes in council tax. He said: "Pensioners, like everyone else, can't be sheltered from council tax increases, although there are rebates."

Coun Galloway said Whitehall plans to re-value properties could also spell "bad news" in terms of council tax bills for OAPs in the next few years in the wake of York's property price boom.

News of the freeze on pensioner bus pass fares comes ahead of a council meeting outlining potential cuts to the transport budget.

Transport executive member Coun Ann Reid and Bill Woolley, the council's director of environment and development services, will discuss proposals tomorrow at the Guildhall.

As well as the bus pass, pensioners have a choice of travel tokens, which the Lib Dems announced would be fixed to at least a reduced value of £40 next year. They are currently worth £50. Alternatively, they can opt for a discounted off-street parking or ResPark pass.

Labour transport spokesman Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing blamed the Lib Dems' budget problems on spending too much on York Pride and on extra managers at the council.

Updated: 09:49 Monday, December 20, 2004