£300k & Bus Summit Aims To Ensure GHA Scenario ‘Does Not Happen Again’

A £300,000 funding boost to help local authorities in north east Wales restore key bus services has been announced by Welsh Government.

The grant, made available to Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham Councils with immediate effect, will allow services impacted by the implosion of GHA Coaches to be re-introduced and help build ‘resilience’ in the services already provided.

In July 2016 it was announced that GHA Coaches had entered administration – resulting in the loss of around 400 jobs. Bus services across north east Wales, Shropshire and parts of Cheshire also ceased overnight.

In Wrexham a number of services were replaced with other operators, including as previously reported RJ’s of Wem (who had links to GHA) whose licence was revoked by the Traffic Commissioner earlier this month.

Announcing the £300,000 funding this morning, Economy and Infrastructure Secretary and local AM Ken Skates said that he expects the money to be used to ‘improve services and choice for the passenger’.

He said: “I’m delighted to announce this funding for the local authorities most affected by the liquidation of GHA Coaches. I expect to see it used to improve services and choice for the passenger, re-introducing key routes lost and providing network stability.

“I’ve been clear, however, that we must look at the long term future of bus travel and how local authorities, bus operators, passenger groups, Welsh Government and others can better work together to ensure services are maintained and improved.

“The Bus Services Summit I will lead in in Wrexham on 23rd of January, the North Wales bus co-ordinator post we have created and the added support I have announced through Business Wales and Finance Wales will all help in this regard.

He added: “As for this funding, I’ve made it clear to councils that it has been provided on the basis that the they develop and submit a robust strategy for future bus services in North Wales by March. It’s in everyone’s interests to ensure that a situation like that seen with GHA coaches does not happen again and I’m determined that our bus services are made more sustainable.

“We all have the same goal – to ensure that passengers across the region and beyond get the quality, sustainable service they rightly expect. This funding will help with that.”

Cllr David A Bithell Lead Member Environment and Transport said he was aware of the funding, however, it was unclear what proportion Wrexham would receive.

He said: “Our officers attended a meeting last week and I am waiting to see the outcome. We need to be aware that even if additional funding is forthcoming this does not mean that it will go back to how it was.

“A significant reduction in available fleet and the commercial market will determine local bus services.

“I have written to the minister re the bus summit and as Chair of the Transport advisory group in North Wales the six North Wales authorities have met to discuss our position and what we want to see in the longer term.

Cllr Bithell added: “The bus industry has been greatly reduced over the last few years by a number of budget control and it’s not helped by de-regulation which gives authorities little power to control bus services.”