DISTRICT council chiefs have said they will never spend any significant money towards free tube travel for the elderly, and the issue is now closed for debate.

At a meeting of Epping Forest District Council’s cabinet, members confirmed they would not meet with Transport for London or attempt to negotiate any kind of concessions for use of the underground.

At the moment any London pensioner can travel free on the tube system using the Freedom Pass scheme but their counterparts in the Epping Forest District have no such support- even if they live yards from the border.

Council leader Di Collins told the Guardian it would be unfair to use council tax for the scheme and it would cost around £250 a pass.

She said: “Certainly we as a district council couldn’t possibly do it. We aren’t going to look at it any more. We couldn’t possibly afford it- it’s a huge amount. If Boris Johnson or the county council want to chip in that’s ok but I can’t see how we can justify it unless it costs us virtually nothing.”

She also suggested that any underground travel subsidy would disproportionately help people in the south of the district adding: “It’s ok if you are in Buckhurst Hill next door to a tube station but not if you live in the north of the district.”

Olivia Rhys, of Cedar Close, Buckhurst Hill, has now raised nearly 4,000 signatures in support of free tube travel for the elderly.

She said: “I disagree with them. I know people who live in Waltham Abbey who drive to Buckhurst Hill to use the tube. It’s not a reason it’s an excuse.

“My suggestion was why don’t they issue them to whoever wanted one and they could pay £30 towards getting one?

“I’m disappointed but I’m still getting signatures, and I’m still campaigning.”

Chigwell councillor David Bateman had presented a petition of over 1,000 people to the district council calling for cheaper tube travel.

He said he would now move his focus to other areas adding: “My next idea is to try to get a meeting or correspondence with Boris Johnson, and see if he can get national government to give them or TfL a hand in this.”

Allen Warner, of Limes Avenue, Chigwell had supported the petition.

He said: “We are in the metropolitan area but we just happen to be in Essex. That’s where the disparity lies. You could look at it as north south divide. It does seem to people like myself a little unfair. We live here and it should be available for us to use.”