Bus routes axed after subsidies withdrawn
BUS companies have confirmed which routes they will no longer operate in Bridgend after the local authority voted to cut all its subsidies for services.
Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) axed its remaining funding for bus services in order to save £148,000.
The local authority is facing cuts of £36m over the next three years and said it could no longer afford the subsidy.
The bus routes that will no longer operate after August 31 are Number 67 (First Cymru) Bridgend to Aberkenfig via Pen-y-Fai (Mon-Sat) and Number 37 (Easyway) Maesteg to Maesteg Parc Estate (Mon-Sat).
Operators have said the routes are no longer viable due to the withdrawal of local authority funding.
BCBC councillor for Maesteg West Ross Thomas (Independent) said the withdrawal of the Number 37 would have a devastating impact.
He said: “The geography of Maesteg Parc and the surrounding area – being mainly steep streets and detached from the main transport network – make it a unique area that relies heavily on this bus service. The withdrawal of this service will leave many people – including isolated, elderly residents – without any mode of transport at all. I have written to the council to ask that the decision on financial support is reconsidered.”
After August 31, the following routes will be run on a commercial basis only:
■ Number 76 (First Cymru) Bridgend to Bettws (Mon-Sat)
■ Number 73 (First Cymru) Bridgend to Blaengarw (Mon-Sat). However, the 22:40 Bridgend to Blaengarw and 23:35 Blaengarw to Bettws will operate on Fridays and Saturdays only. On Mondays to Thursdays, the last departure will be 21:40 from Bridgend to Blaengarw and 22:35 from Blaengarw to Bridgend.
■ Number 51 (Easyway) will be replaced by Number 49 (which combines services 51, 51B and 52), Bridgend to Oaklands Road via Bridgend Life Centre (Monday to Friday)
■ Number 16 (Easyway) Bridgend to Bettws via Ynysawdre (Monday to Friday). It will no longer continue up to Blaengarw via Pontrhyl.
■ A new service (Easyway) 861 – is also being launched in the Porthcawl area to replace the previous 61 and 803 services.
Cllr Richard Young, cabinet member for communities, said the local authority was working with community transport operators to support areas where bus services had been withdrawn.
He said: “The bus operators deserve huge credit for deciding to continue operating some bus services on a commercial basis.
“In an ideal world, the council would still be receiving sufficient funding and we would not now be forced to make such huge cuts to services that people have come to rely on.
“But this is the 10th year of national austerity, and some hard facts have to be faced.”