A SURVEY into concessionary travel cuts has been amended by the Isle of Wight Council following complaints some affected groups could not voice their concerns.

The council currently funds a number of discretionary extra travel discounts in addition to the mandatory criteria.

But these extras, which include free travel on Island buses and Island Line trains for people with a 'severe and enduring mental health problem', and free travel for disabled people between 11pm and 9am, have now been recommended for removal.

On Tuesday last week, the council launched a consultation on potential changes to the concessionary travel scheme, which could affect almost 4,000 people.

However, the online survey would only allow responses from people who already had one of the cards in question.

After concerns were raised that people currently without a card could not raise concerns, even if they were in an affected group, this was amended.

A council spokesperson said: "Although we are keen to hear the views of current users as this consultation may directly affect them, we appreciate non-users of the scheme may also have a view.

"Therefore we have amended the survey to enable non-card users to further give their comments also."

The council said the concessionary travel scheme cost £4.72 million in 2017/18, for both mandatory and additional discretionary elements, and the proposed cuts would bring the authority in line with others elsewhere in the country.

The 12-week consultation will close at noon on Tuesday, October 8.

Comments can be made on the council's website or at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ConcessionaryTravelSchemeConsultation.