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Question 1
– how would you
describe the current condition of the bus and community transport
sectors in Wales?
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Please accept my apologies when I say that I cannot
make comment on most of the questions that you have asked due to my
lack of knowledge on this very complex and important
subject.
However, I would be most grateful if you would take
the time to read my answer on Question 8 and the comments following
it.
Thank you.
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Question 2 – why do you think
the number of bus services and the number of bus passengers is
declining in Wales?
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Question 3 – what do you think is the social, economic
and environmental impact of recent changes in bus and community
transport service levels?
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Question 4 – what do you think
the Welsh Government should do to support bus and community
transport in Wales?
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Question 5 – what do you think Welsh local authorities should do
to support bus and community transport services?
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Question 6 – what do you think about proposals to devolve bus
registration powers to Wales? How should these be used?
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Question 7 – please tell us whether you think further powers to
regulate the bus industry in Wales are required and why?
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Question 8 – what
other action can be taken to ensure that bus and community
transport services meet the needs of people in Wales?
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Local borough councils could send out a questionnaire
to constituents for opinions and improvements that could be made to
local services.
A committee could be set up in order to analyse any
comments in order to liaise with bus companies regarding the needs
of bus services within the borough.
Please see my comments below.
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Please tell us anything else you would like to
mention this topic, thank you for contributing to our
inquiry.
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I have campaigned for the past 4 years with local
councillors my AM and Stagecoach regarding the No 33 bus service to
Cardiff. The service travels from Pontypool and through
Griffithstown every half an hour from 0905 until 13.05 then every
hour until 17.45. There is a return journey working on
similar times. The population of Griffithstown is 5,450 the
Population of New Inn is 5,986. I am 76 years of age and live
in New Inn near Pontypool and, like me, there are many people who
would welcome the opportunity of having a direct bus service to
Cardiff. In particular elderly people who need to attend or
visit hospitals in Cardiff. There is no reason why this
service could not be fairly distributed between Griffithstown and
New Inn thereby allowing the residents of New Inn to be treated
equally. Many people feel that we are being discriminated
against. We do have a train station with a service to Cardiff
but in my case it is one and a half miles away and on the Pontypool
edge of the village – a long walk for most and not easily
accessible. The other issue is that if, like me, people have bus
passes we are able to take advantage of free travel – the
train fare is £8.70 return. I trust that you will give
my comments your careful consideration. Thank you.
I forgot to mention that the access to the platform
at Pontypool and New Inn rail station is totally inaccessible to
the elderly and disabled there being two long flights of steps up
to the platform. It is possible to get a bus to Cardiff from
New Inn but it involves changing buses at Cwmbran Bus Station which
is quite a dangerous traffic area. It means crossing two roads
amongst a lot of bus traffic. Vulnerable people are unable to
make this journey which is why a direct bus service to Cardiff is
so important.
However, I must emphasise that the rail station is a
valuable asset to our working community who travel daily on what is
one of Arriva's main lines. It is also used by students
travelling to Hereford, people from New Inn and surrounding areas
are able to drive and park or be dropped off at the station. Able
bodied people too make good use of the facility.
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