More from this month’s full council meeting.
With the Welsh Government’s recent announcement that emergency financial support for bus services was to be withdrawn this summer, Alex Williams (Ind, Pencoed & Penprysg) asked for a statement on Bridgend Council’s current subsidies for bus services and their future.
He was particularly concerned about the future of the 65 services which runs from Bridgend to Talbot Green via Heol-y-Cyw.
The council’s leadership has already acknowledged that the loss of bus services would impact the well-being of older people, younger people and people on low incomes. However, Cllr. Williams said it should be noted that the process of withdrawing support for bus services started under the Labour administration in previous terms.
There was also a real risk that the new Metrolink bus station in Porthcawl could end up with few or no buses serving it.
Cllr. Heidi Bennett (Lab, Penyfai) said Penyfai has been without a bus service since July 2022, which has left some residents feeling isolated. She asked for clarification on Bridgend Council’s responsibilities for public transport services and what was being done to find a sustainable solution.
Talks continue on a solution, but impossible to make commitments
Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr. John Spanswick (Lab, Brackla West Central), said any cuts to council bus subsidies in previous terms were down to cuts to council funding (and Welsh Government block grants) from the UK Government.
It was “almost impossible” to make any future commitments as, to Cllr. Spanswick’s understanding, “every bus service that runs within Bridgend county cannot operate commercially” – meaning they only run because of subsidies of some kind. There are ongoing discussions behind the scenes between local authorities, bus operators and the Welsh Government on a solution.
Cllr. Spanswick also confirmed that public transport isn’t a statutory local government service – which means it doesn’t have to be provided by the council by law.
