SOME of the county’s most vulnerable residents are set to be charged for a lifeline transport service, the Lancashire Telegraph has learned.

A decision was expected yesterday on the future of Lancashire County Council’s community transport service, but it was delayed at the last minute.

However, it has emerged that the measures being proposed will see charges levied for the minibus ‘dial-a-ride’ service, even for holders of free bus passes.

Operating hours for the service are also likely to be scaled back.

Lancashire County Council would not confirm details of its plans, which were presented to transport operators on Wednesday.

But Joe Hannett, manager of Preston Community Transport, said: “We have been given an offer by Lancashire County Council, which we are considering.

“Out of the whole sorry situation, this is probably about as good an offer as there could have been.

“There will be charges. There is unlikely to be a return to free transport. And there will be a potential reduction in hours.”

The changes will mean the same level of costs will apply across Lancashire from July. The costs to users have not yet been revealed, but they are understood to be closer to those of taxis, rather than traditional bus travel.

The door-to-door service, used for essential trips by thousands of people a year, had been covered by the free bus passes enjoyed by over 60s and disabled people, but it is no longer included in the scheme.

In March the Lancashire Telegraph revealed that charges were set to be introduced once a three-month negotiation period ended.