A scheme aimed at replacing travel vouchers for those unable to use the bus will now go ahead from September 1.

The plans were revealed at a Maidstone council cabinet meeting on Wednesday by the Conservatives, but were heavily criticised by Lib Dem and Independent councillors, who attended in force.

The scheme, which will be open to people with severe mobility problems and those who have difficulties walking, will be administered by a third party organisation and be in the form of vouchers to pay for taxis.

Opposition members said they were unhappy the new scheme excluded carers, the elderly and those with health problems, which might affect their ability to walk.

Council leader Cllr Chris Garland (Con) said he was delighted the Tories had been able to deliver their election pledge to provide a scheme that would fill the void left by the loss of travel vouchers.

He said: “We are doing something for the people that cannot use the buses. It will be a voucher scheme because people need the flexibility to choose the mode of transport that suits them best.”

Eligible people would receive £70 of vouchers. It would cost the council about £68,000, should 761 people apply for vouchers, the number who did under the old scheme.

It would be funded from a contingency of £200,000, which was set aside by the council in case the costs of the new national free bus passes for over-60s overran. Cllr Garland described it as a “managed risk”.

Cllr Julia Batt (Lib Dem) said: “I want something brought back for the disabled, carers and elderly – I think it is important.

“The disabled people of Maidstone and their carers need something and it has got to be a damn sight better than what was put on the table on Wednesday night.”

The previous scheme was scrapped by the Lib Dem administration in April because of the cost of the bus pass scheme. There had been plans to look at alternatives.

Cllr Batt added: “I was by no means happy we had to scrap it under our administration, but what the Tories have come up with is just something to shut us up, I feel.”