Public transport promoter Centro and Solihull Council have joined forces to make it easier for people in the borough to access public transport information and to apply for travel passes.
People over 60 who qualify for free off-peak travel on all buses, trains and trams, can now apply for their pass at the council’s Solihull Connect customer service centres in Chelmsley Wood and Library Square Solihull. The passes could previously be obtained only through main post offices.
Under the partnership with Centro, the Solihull Connect sites will also display public transport information and trained advisors will be able to help people find their way around the bus, train and Metro network.
These are the latest in the growing list of services available from Solihull Connect – giving customers one simple point of contact for information about the Council and its partner’s services. Both sites have a team of Customer Service Advisors who are available to provide personal advice and guidance about a full range of services including Housing Benefit, Council Tax and Blue Badge applications.
Cllr Gary Clarke chairman of Centro’s policy-setting body, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority, said: “The partnership arrangements at Solihull Connect are a great example of two public bodies working together to give local people extra service and information to help boost public transport use. One of the reasons we introduced the ‘check and send’ system for concessionary passes was to extend the number of locations where people could apply for their pass – so I’m delighted Solihull Council has taken this step to provide an enhanced service for its residents.”
Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Ian Hillas, said: “We are delighted to have Centro aboard. It shows the great opportunities that Solihull Connect offers for new ways of working, both for the council and with partners like Centro.”
“Through Solihull Connect, we are making it easy for people to get services and information on both council and partner services and as we open more Solihull Connect sites across the borough this will become even easier for people to get the information or service they want, in one place.”
Note to editors:
Anyone aged over 60 can get a concessionary travel pass giving free off-peak local public transport. The new “check and send” service will ensure that applicants have the correct documents and submit this to Centro, which then posts the pass to the person’s home address. It replaces the cardboard passes previously issued at post offices with more hard-wearing and secure plastic passes.
