Perthshire Advertiser

Stagecoach in Scottish Transport Awards final

- ROBBIE CHALMERS

A Perth-based bus company has made it to the final in three categories at the Scottish Transport Awards.

Stagecoach’s operations across Perth and Kinross, as well as Fife, Dundee and Angus, has seen them shortliste­d for the prestigiou­s public transport operator of the year award.

This follows on from last year when the team won the same award at the 2019 ceremony.

Popular airport service JET747 has been acknowledg­ed in the best bus service category.

The company is also in the running for the transport team/partnershi­p of the year award, for its efforts and“going over and above”during Storm Ciara and the closure of the Queensferr­y Crossing in February 2020.

In a recent bus passenger survey by Transport Focus, Stagecoach East Scotland achieved the highest satisfacti­on score of any operator in the UK at 97 per cent.

The winners are due to be announced at a ceremony in Glasgow in September.

Douglas Robertson, managing director of Stagecoach East Scotland, said:“I’m extremely proud that we have been shortliste­d for these awards.

“It’s a testament to the hard work our team at East Scotland carry out, every day.

“To be shortliste­d for the public transport operator of the year award again just goes to show that the team here is consistent­ly providing the best possible service to our customers and hopefully we can retain our title.”

The company employs over 1300 people in nine depots across the region and carries around 32 million passengers per year.

For the full Scottish Transport Awards shortlist go to https://www. transportt­imes.co.uk/Admin/uploads/ sta-shortlist-2020.pdf

Question: I’m over 75 and confused about whether I will need to pay for my TV licence in the future because I have heard that the free licence for over 75s is being withdrawn now that the spread of coronaviru­s is more under control. Is that right?

Answer: The free TV licence for all over 75s was due to be withdrawn from the beginning of June. Removal of the concession was put back because it was felt that access to television was essential to keep older people informed during the COVID-19 pandemic so it was the wrong time to make the change.

It will now take effect from August 1. From that date only over 75s who are in receipt of a benefit called Pension Credit will qualify for a free TV licence. Others will need to pay the £157.50 fee.

However, you don’t need to do anything straight away, you can wait for a letter from TV Licencing which will explain more.

More informatio­n is available at www. tvlicencin­g.co.uk or ring TV Licencing on 0300 790 6117.

Pension Credit is a benefit administer­ed by the Pensions Service that boosts household income for older people. Both you and your partner, if you have one, must have reached state pension age in order to qualify.

It is based on your income and that of your partner if you have one.

Capital also affects entitlemen­t. There is no limit to the amount of capital that you can have and still qualify but if you have over £10,000 capital you will be treated as having £1 per week income for every £500 above that £10,000. Capital includes savings, investment­s and property other than the one that is your home.

If your weekly income is below £173.25 for a single person, Pension Credit will top it up to that amount. For a

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