Calls for ‘vital’ bus service to return to communities
SOME Cynon Valley communities were left isolated three years ago when a regular bus service running through them was withdrawn.
Now, attempts are being made to reintroduce the “vital” services to connect people in Abercynon, particularly elderly and disabled people and parents with younger children, with the wider Valleys community once more.
It comes after the bus services to Bryntirion, Nant y Fedw, Park View, Carnetown and Lock Street areas of the Cynon Valley village were taken away as the Glamorgan Bus company went out of operation.
Local councillors Rhys Lewis and Elaine George are leading the calls, and have written a letter to Stagecoach, which operates buses in the area, and New Adventure Travel (NAT), which operates buses in the wider South Wales area, to request they start serving the communities.
Coun Lewis said: “The withdrawal of these services has had a negative impact on the more vulnerable members of our ward, ie the disabled, elderly residents and also parents with young children.
“Many of these members of our community are unable to walk the longer distances of up to a mile to access the bus stops on the main routes. This has resulted in a loss of their independence.”
Coun Lewis said these members of the community have now become increasingly isolated, and many of them cannot now access basic services such as their doctor’s surgery, chemist, the post office, or their local shops.
That’s as well as being unable to access banks, building societies and supermarkets in neighbouring towns.
He said that gets worse during the winter months, and that the generation of parents with small families suffers too, and living on the outskirts of the village, means they find it difficult to get their children to local schools.
The pair of councillors said they have spoken to various people in the local community who have been “negatively impacted”.
He added: “Bus services such as these have a vital contribution to play within our community for the more vulnerable members of our village allowing them to maintain independent living, contributing to their social and general wellbeing.
“As the buses already run frequently through the main road of the village, could there be the possibility of diversions into the areas highlighted allowing greater accessibility to help alleviate some of the issues being experienced by residents.”
When contacted, Stagecoach refused to comment, while a spokesman for NAT Group said: “Unfortunately we do not operate a bus service through Abercynon except for on a Sunday, therefore we don’t have a service to divert to the areas requested by Coun George.”