Llandegla bus service seen as a “lifeline to many” reinstated after campaign

A village bus service that was scrapped earlier this month is to be reinstated.

Arriva Wales announced in December that the X51 between Wrexham and Rhyl will no longer stop in Llandegla – with buses instead remaining on the A525.

The transport operator cited the impact of the recently introduced 20mph speed limit as the reason behind the change, with a spokesperson stating that the service “overall is taking longer to operate.”

Arriva’s decision led to complaints and a campaign from local residents who argued that axing the service would leave them at risk of “being cut off.”

However Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has now confirmed that the Llandegla bus service, which was scrapped 11 days ago, is to be reinstated.

It comes after Denbighshire County Council received approval from all North Wales authorities to use a portion of this year’s Bus Transition Funding to assist with the change made to this service.

Arriva have agreed that they could operate the first and last journey of the X51 in and out of Llandegla, and Denbighshire Council can now look at providing a temporary minibus to run the timetable in between.

The service will be reinstated until the end of May when a further review of services will take place.

Welcoming the news Darren Millar MS said: “Residents of Llandegla will be thrilled that a solution has been found and that this service will resume.

“This service is a lifeline to many and I am pleased that this has been recognised.

“Obviously it is a concern that the service will run until May 31 only, when there will be a further review of services.

“I will be pushing to ensure that when this review takes places, the genuine concerns that I raised on behalf of residents will be fully considered and that this service will continue indefinitely.”