North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has raised concerns with the First Minister that bus services in Flintshire are at risk of being cut due to a reduction in Welsh Government funding and rising costs.
Raising the matter in the Senedd Chamber, Mr Isherwood asked what action is being taken to improve bus services in the County.
He said:
“It's encouraging that Flint Station was funded by the UK Department for Transport as part of the former Conservative Government's ‘Access for All’ Programme to make it accessible for all passengers, especially those with limited mobility. In terms of bus services, however, concerns were expressed as recently as October about cuts to several bus services in Flintshire due to a reduction in Welsh Government funding and rising costs.
“What, therefore, is the current position regarding the announcement in March, following the publication of the Welsh Government's ‘Road Map to Bus Reform’, that Transport for Wales would collaborate with Flintshire County Council throughout 2024 to make improvements to Bus Services in Delyn and across the County ahead of the new legislation?
“And how has the Welsh Government worked with the bus industry during the transition to form a ‘Bridge to Franchising’ for contract routes that are deemed to be socially necessary for people in Flintshire?”
Responding, the First Minister said “we all recognise that the situation in relation to bus services in Wales is not where it should be, and that is partly because of the model that we have”.
She added:
“You're quite right that what we need to do is to make sure that there is a single mind trying to work out how all these different areas connect, and that we listen to the public in terms of what they want to see. That relationship with the Council will be instrumental in making sure that we're reflecting the needs of the public, and not seeing just the most profitable bus routes being picked off. “