Council ‘welcome Welsh Government u-turn’ over emergency bus funding
Cllr David A Bithell, Deputy Leader of Wrexham Council, and responsiblity for transport, has said he “welcomes the u-turn from Welsh Government” over the emergency bus funding.
As we reported this week Welsh Government has announced an extension to the Bus Emergency Scheme and stated there will be ‘successor arrangements’ for the whole financial year.
Reacting to the news Cllr Bithell said, “Although the detail needs to to be looked at the fact of the matter is that the bus network in England and Wales was near collapse.”
“Concessionary travel and general patronage is lower post covid as methods of travel and work patterns have changed. We need to encourage travel on public transport and the only way is a new fare structure.
“We have made representation as a Council to the WLGA and have given evidence to the environment and climate committee to look at at a flat fare structure across Wales. Concessionary travel has reduced and to meet our climate challenges fares need to be cheeper and affordable with better services at evening and weekends.”
He added, “The Council’s administration have supported £200k into public transport this year and we are currently looking at options to support the bus network.”
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