A PARTIALLY-sighted man says he is pleased he won a battle over free bus travel.

Wimborne resident Michael Hall had “implored” East Dorset District Council not to introduce a scheme barring free travel before 9.30am, when they introduced a national bus travel scheme last year.

Mr Hall, now 55, had been using the scheme to attend hospital appointments, in an agreement dating back to 2001.

He argued that withdrawing free travel before 9.30am would restrict visually impaired people’s lives.

When the scheme did come in, he was forced to pay the cost of buses from his Disability Living Allowance.

The local government ombudsman upheld the complaint as one of seven pursued nationally by the RNIB for blind, partially sighted or deafblind people.

In the ruling, the ombudsman said the council had failed to consider their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act, had failed to comply with its own policies, and not consulted properly.

Mr Hall will receive £100 in compensation and East Dorset District Council has now amended its policy.

Speaking to the Echo, Mr Hall said he had found out that 63 sight-affected people had been affected by the change.

“It is very nice to be awarded £100 compensation.

“I did it because I felt that other people with similar circumstances may not have been informed and get the thing overturned,” he added.

Moira Fraser, regional campaigns manager from RNIB, said restricting or removing free travel in East Dorset had threatened blind and partially sighted people’s safety and independence.

“RNIB is delighted that the ombudsman has agreed that this should not have happened in the way it did in the East Dorset authority.”

She said they would now contact other authorities to make them aware of the ombudsman’s decision and ask them to reconsider any decisions that could impact on the blind or partially sighted.

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