Bus services face fund axe
FUNDING for nine bus services in Bridgend could be axed due to ongoing cuts to public funding, it’s been revealed.
FUNDING for nine bus services in Bridgend could be axed due to ongoing cuts to public funding.
It comes as Bridgend County Borough Council invites residents to have their say on how bus services could be provided in future.
The local authority said it is tackling “multi-million pound shortfalls” in the amount of funding it receives – its budget for subsidising services is due to drop to £426,000 for 2018/19 after spending more than £614,000 supporting these services over the past year.
As a result, the council is proposing to withdraw funding for these nine bus services:
51 – Bridgend to Oaklands Road (Easyway);
803 – Danygraig to Porthcawl (Easyway);
61 – Nottage to Porthcawl (Peyton Travel);
81 – Bridgend to Pen-yFai via Brackla and Coity (Easyway);
68/69 – Bridgend to Cefn Glas (First Cymru);
52 – Bridgend to Broadlands (Easyway);
63B – Bridgend to Porthcawl (First Cymru);
62 – Bridgend to Pencoed (First Cymru); and,
73 – Pyle to Fforddygyfraith (Easyway).
Coun Richard Young, the council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “The council and Welsh Government subsidise some regional and local bus routes so that residents who live along them have convenient access to employment, education, health care and social activities.
“Unfortunately, as we will have even less money available to spend on public services next year, the current level of subsidy is unsustainable. Clearly, this isn’t a situation that we would like to be in, but it is the harsh reality that the previous level of funding simply cannot be maintained.
“We therefore want to look at the consequences of withdrawing the subsidies on certain routes, and would like to gather public opinion before any decisions are taken.
“As well as telling us whether or not they value these particular bus services, we also want local residents’ views on possible travel alternatives that may be available to them, such as the commu- nity transport scheme. All of these schemes are designed to serve routes that are used, but only by relatively low passenger numbers, and may be the most suitable option for the future.”
Give your views at www. bridgend.gov.uk/consultation