A PARTIALLY sighted man believes people with sight difficulties are being discriminated against, as they, along with the over 60s, will lose free bus travel before 9.30am from April.

Wimborne resident Michael Hall, 54, has written to East Dorset District Council to "implore" them to change their minds.

He said the agreement for blind and partially sighted people to travel free dated back to 2001, and people with sight problems do not have the option of using a car, as some over-60s do.

He said the cut to the concessionary bus pass scheme would restrict people's lives, and it was yet another bill as the free talking book service was withdrawn two years ago.

"I've been told it's in the council's gift to lift this restriction in respect of partially sighted and blind people," he said. "I recently had to go to Poole Hospital. I had to be down there for 9am, getting the bus at 7.40am.

"I am in receipt of income support. Last time I went down to the hospital my wife came with me. It cost £5 plus."

Jonathan Holyhead, chief executive of Dorset Blind Association, said they had made representations on the issue as there are more than 6,500 registered blind and partially sighted people in Dorset and many more have serious eyesight problems.

"All sorts of legislative and financial decisions are made which have an unavoidable and very unfortunate knock-on impact to the blind and partially sighted community," he said.

"The options for someone to get from point A to point B are much lower than they are for people who have normal sight."

Cllr Queenie Comfort, lead member for community at East Dorset District Council, said central government funding for concessionary travel covered from 9.30am to 11pm, Monday to Friday, weekends and bank holidays.

"The cost of providing concessionary travel is increasing and the whole cost is not being met by the government's grant.

"To expand the service to run outside these hours would result in a considerable cost to the council, impacting on other services it provides to the residents of East Dorset."