Question 1 –
how would you
describe the current condition of the bus and community transport
sectors in Wales?
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Please accept my apologies when I say that I cannot make comment on
most of the questions that you have asked due to my lack of
knowledge on this very complex and important subject.
However, I would be most grateful if you would take the time to
read my answer on Question 8 and the comments following
it.
Thank you.
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Question 2 –
why do you think
the number of bus services and the number of bus passengers is
declining in Wales?
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Question 3 –
what do you think is the social, economic and environmental impact
of recent changes in bus and community transport service
levels?
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Question 4 –
what do you think
the Welsh Government should do to support bus and community
transport in Wales?
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Question 5
– what do you think Welsh local authorities should do to
support bus and community transport services?
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Question 6
– what do you think about proposals to devolve bus
registration powers to Wales? How should these be used?
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Question 7
– please tell us whether you think further powers to regulate
the bus industry in Wales are required and why?
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Question 8
– what other
action can be taken to ensure that bus and community transport
services meet the needs of people in Wales?
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Local borough councils could send out a questionnaire to
constituents for opinions and improvements that could be made to
local services.
A committee could be set up in order to analyse any comments in
order to liaise with bus companies regarding the needs of bus
services within the borough.
Please see my comments below.
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Please tell us anything
else you would like to mention this topic, thank you for
contributing to our inquiry.
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I have campaigned for the past 4 years with local councillors my AM
and Stagecoach regarding the No 33 bus service to Cardiff. The
service travels from Pontypool and through Griffithstown every half
an hour from 0905 until 13.05 then every hour until 17.45.
There is a return journey working on similar times. The
population of Griffithstown is 5,450 the Population of New Inn is
5,986. I am 76 years of age and live in New Inn near
Pontypool and, like me, there are many people who would welcome the
opportunity of having a direct bus service to Cardiff. In
particular elderly people who need to attend or visit hospitals in
Cardiff. There is no reason why this service could not be
fairly distributed between Griffithstown and New Inn thereby
allowing the residents of New Inn to be treated equally. Many
people feel that we are being discriminated against. We do
have a train station with a service to Cardiff but in my case it is
one and a half miles away and on the Pontypool edge of the village
– a long walk for most and not easily accessible. The other
issue is that if, like me, people have bus passes we are able to
take advantage of free travel – the train fare is £8.70
return. I trust that you will give my comments your careful
consideration. Thank you.
I forgot to mention that the access to the platform at Pontypool
and New Inn rail station is totally inaccessible to the elderly and
disabled there being two long flights of steps up to the
platform. It is possible to get a bus to Cardiff from New Inn
but it involves changing buses at Cwmbran Bus Station which is
quite a dangerous traffic area. It means crossing two roads amongst
a lot of bus traffic. Vulnerable people are unable to make
this journey which is why a direct bus service to Cardiff is so
important.
However, I must emphasise that the rail station is a valuable asset
to our working community who travel daily on what is one of
Arriva's main lines. It is also used by students travelling
to Hereford, people from New Inn and surrounding areas are able to
drive and park or be dropped off at the station. Able bodied people
too make good use of the facility.
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