Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies has warned that service cuts being implemented by Arriva Buses Wales, which they state are as a consequence of the Welsh Government’s 20mph default speed limit, will leave elderly and vulnerable residents stranded.
Arriva have announced that they will no longer serve a number of locations in Denbighshire, and will reduce the level of service to others.
They blame the cuts on buses taking longer to operate across the area as a result of the unpopular default 20mph speed limit which was introduced by the Labour Welsh Government in September last year.
James, who has written to Arriva over the matter and has also requested a meeting with the The Traffic Commissioner, said:
“I am seriously concerned about the bus service cuts being imposed by Arriva and the impact this will have on residents in Denbighshire – particularly the elderly and vulnerable.
“I have received a number of emails and calls from residents who are extremely worried.
“One resident in Prestatyn, who does not wish to be named, said “there are a lot of us who are elderly and we are trying to keep our independence but we won’t be able to come [to Tweedmill] next week when these changes come in”.
"Tweedmill Shopping Outlet in St Asaph is a popular shopping and dining venue and a significant number of its customers are elderly and depend on local bus services to get there. It is therefore very sad that Arriva will no longer serve Tweedwill, or Llandegla, via its Services 51 and x51, Rhyl to Wrexham, from yesterday (January 14).
“Whilst there are stops on the main road in either direction near Tweedmill, they both involve the crossing of a road and a walk of up to 350 metres. As a result, many who enjoyed visiting the outlet will now find it difficult to do so.
"We should be doing everything we can to ensure our elderly residents can maintain their independence and are not cut off. These cuts will leave people stranded.
“I am also concerned that the Number 13 - Llandudno to Prestatyn service, which takes in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, has been downgraded to an hourly service, from one that ran every 40 minutes. Many people depend on this service to get to appointments and visit relatives in the hospital.
“Given that all these service reductions are said to be a direct result of the Welsh Government’s 20mph default speed limit, I really hope Ministers in Cardiff Bay are going to meet and work with Arriva to discuss a better way forward.”
James is also concerned that the 20mph speed limit is hampering any chance of improvements to the Arriva bus service in Dyserth.
In October last year, James wrote to Arriva to ask whether it would consider reinstating the High Street link now that congestion improvement works have been carried out, but in their response the reasons they cited for not carrying out the improvements included "delays incurred by the 20mph speed limit" and the assumed non-profitable nature of any High Street diversion.
Picture caption 2: Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies at a meeting with Dyserth Community Councillors in October regarding bus services.
