GHA Collapse Update – 36 Areas Of Wrexham Still With No Transport Provision

Many areas of Wrexham are still without bus provision after the collapse of provider GHA, with a North Wales AM putting pressure on Welsh Government to help sort the problems.

On Wednesday 13th July Ruabon based company  GHA Coaches announced they had entered into administration, resulting in the loss of 320 jobs across north east Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire, with some routes taken up by new providers but gaps still remain.

In a recent report circulated to all Councillors it is noted ‘there has not been any significant interest in most of the service gaps’, with a re-tendering process outlined. The new procurement process will first focus on those areas and communities that currently have no transport service provision.

The scale of the task in hand is shown with the long list of communities affected being; Aberoer, Glyn Ceiriog , Pandy, Bangor on Dee, Gyfelia, Penley, Bettisfield, Hanmer, Pontfadog, Black Park, Horseman’s Green, Rhos y Madoc, Bowling Bank, Is-y-coed, Ridley Wood, Bronington, Legacy, Sontley, Burton, Llanarmon D C, Tai Nant, Croeshowell, Lodge ,Talwrn Green, Dolywern, Marchwiel, Tregeiriog, Eglwys Cross, Moss, Trevalyn, Erbistock, New Brighton, Worthenbury , Froncysyllte, Overton, Y Wern.

The timescale for the re-tendering process is given as:

• Tenders issued to market – w/e Friday 29 July
• Tender period (one week) – return date Mon 8 August
• Tender evaluation and assessment – complete Friday 12 August

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM, said: “I’ve been contacted by passengers from various parts of Wrexham expressing their concerns at being stranded due to the sudden disappearance of the GHA bus routes. My understanding is that Flintshire has replaced all 12 GHA public services and that Wrexham Council is working towards this, despite the short notice and lack of capacity among other firms.

“Getting these services back on the road is the obvious priority as it will benefit passengers and those drivers left out of work. Once that’s achieved then I think we have to get answers to questions about how this was allowed to happen and how we ensure that an integrated public transport system is developed for this area.

“We’ve heard about the ambitious South Wales Metro and the rather more mythical North Wales Metro. But what people want to hear about now is how the Cardiff Labour Government is going to help people in communities across Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire who rely on the buses to get to work, to the shops, to visit relatives and go to hospital.”

In Flintshire, the council has managed to replace services on the 12 routes operated by GHA on a temporary basis. These and a further 22 bus routes for schools will be put out to tender in August.

The report to Councillors says a date for the joint meeting between Welsh Government, Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire to discuss the position with transport services in North Wales has now been confirmed for next week, the 2nd of August.