Overview

• Wandsworth Borough Council’s Access for All scheme now includes a 50% discount on Lime and Forest e-bikes and Lime and Voi e-scooters for asylum seekers, benefit recipients, care leavers and other eligible residents.
• Council Leader Simon Hogg described the new travel deal as a “win-win” that will make sustainable transport more affordable and support access to work and leisure across the borough.
• Home Office data indicates that up to 6,537 asylum seekers have used government-issued Aspen cards at gambling venues in the past year, leading to a formal investigation into potential misuse.
• Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has condemned the scheme as an inappropriate subsidy of illegal migrants, intensifying national political scrutiny of the council’s spending.
• Beyond transport, the Access for All program offers vulnerable residents discounts on activities ranging from gym sessions and pottery classes to wedding ceremonies and cultural events.