FREE bus travel for the over-60s and disabled next year will cost Christchurch council tax payers dearly unless the government helps foot the bill.

In his budget speech earlier this year, Chancellor Gordon Brown announced the present concessionary travel scheme for the elderly and disabled would be extended from April 2006 to give free off-peak bus travel for anyone over 60 or registered disabled.

But the cost for Christchurch, one of the smallest boroughs in the country but with the biggest proportion of pensioners among its population, is estimated to add almost a quarter of a million pounds to the council tax bill.

And while final details of government subsidy for the scheme are still awaited, it is feared any award of extra cash will not take into account the borough's high percentage of over- 60s.

Now town hall finance chiefs are to lobby Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to provide proper funding from central government to help implement the revised travel subsidy.

In his report to the resources committee on Wednesday, council head of revenue and benefits Paul Attwater said some 16,300 residents - more than a third of the population - would be eligible for the free travel.

He expected more people would take up the free bus passes than use the present travel token scheme but even if fewer than half those eligible applied for the new scheme it would add £230,000 to the bill.

Mr Attwater's report said: "Government funding based on similar formula to the rate support grant would once again place an unfair burden on the taxpayers of Christchurch.

"The financial implications of the proposed revision to the existing scheme will have a significant effect on the council's finances with a potential very large increase in the annual cost."

Mr Attwater added: "With no foreseeable amendments to the government funding arrangements any change in the scheme will leave the vast majority of the increase in costs falling entirely on local council tax payers."

Present Christchurch council concessionary bus passes, which expire at the end of September, will remain valid until the new system takes effect in April.

First published: September 5