Arriva Bus Service Changes Spark Criticism in North Wales
Public and officials express concern over Arriva's unconsulted bus service changes in North Wales.
Taylor Brooks
- 2024-01-13
- Updated 10:08 AM ET
(NewsNibs) - The decision by Arriva to cancel several bus services in North Wales has come under criticism from local MS Llŷr Gruffydd for the lack of public consultation. The service changes, which took effect starting January 14, entail reductions across various routes, impacting the connectivity of communities in North Wales. Routes affected include Service 51 and X51, which no longer connect passengers to Tweedmill Shopping Outlet in St Asaph or the village of Llandegla.
Impact on Local Communities
For residents of Llandegla, the cessation of bus services may lead to greater isolation. With the bus no longer stopping in the village, locals are now required to travel an additional half mile to the nearest stop on the A525. The frequency of other services, specifically the Bangor to Beaumaris and Mold to Ellesmere Port routes, has been reduced to operate at 75-minute intervals. Additionally, the Llandudno to Prestatyn service now runs hourly, excluding previous stops at Llandudno Junction railway station and Llysfaen. This restructuring is driven by Arriva's need to revise its services in response to a 20mph speed limit affecting the operational time and punctuality of routes such as the Service 51 and X51.
Controversies and Official Insight
The service changes were enacted without prior consultations with affected bus users, and issues have arisen, such as the uncertainty over whether an equality impact assessment was conducted. The proposal for a new bus stop in Llandegla faces a challenge, with the landowner showing reluctance to permit the use of their land. Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change, pointed out that Arriva is not required to maintain routes that are not financially supported for being socially necessary. Furthermore, Arriva has suggested that there is insufficient funding to support increased resources for the bus services, leading to the alterations made with the aim of improving punctuality after a review of patronage and estimated time savings.
Arriva has maintained that decisions to withdraw services, such as to the Llandegla area, are based on the requirement to reduce frequency or resources due to the slower speeds imposed across the network. Without funding to counterbalance these operational challenges, Arriva has found it necessary to eliminate stops including the Tweedmill Shopping Outlet to streamline routes. The controversial adjustments have sparked a debate about the future of rural public transportation and the engagement of service providers with the communities they serve.
