Public invited to have their say on the future of local bus services

Bridgend County Borough Council is inviting local residents to have their say on the possible withdrawal of all subsidies for bus services.

The council currently supports some regional and local bus services by subsidising routes that are not commercially viable, along with the Welsh Government.

Last May, Cabinet Members agreed to cut the subsidies for six partly-funded bus routes around Bridgend County Borough. Since then, all but one of the six routes are continuing to operate on a commercial basis by the bus companies in some form, albeit with revised timetables which may involve less frequent services.

Now, to help it achieve savings required in its Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2019/20 to 2022/23, the council is proposing to remove all remaining bus subsidies for the financial year 2019/20.

Removing the subsidies for all routes would affect eight bus routes and generate a saving of £180,000 in 2019/20. Five of the routes are fully-funded and three are part-funded.

• No.67 Bridgend to Aberkenfig via Pen-y-Fai (First Cymru)
• No.37 Maesteg Parc Estate (Easyway)
• No.73 Bridgend to Blaengarw (First Cymru)
• No.76 Bridgend to Bettws (First Cymru)
• No.51 Bridgend to Oaklands Road (Easyway)
• No.803 Danygraig to Porthcawl (Easyway)
• No.61 Nottage to Porthcawl (Peyton Travel)
• No.16 Bridgend to Blaengarw (Easyway)

Full details can be found in the consultation document.

Having withdrawn some subsidies last year we agreed that we would continue to subsidise other routes for a further 12 months. We’ve now reached the point where we need to look ahead to the next financial year. Like all councils, we are facing more budget cuts each year and these subsidies are simply not sustainable.

Our recent experience demonstrates that the removal of subsidies will not necessarily mean that all routes will no longer be provided in some form. However, the decision to operate them in full or part would lie with the operators who may decide to stop running journeys that aren’t deemed as being commercially viable.

We want the public to share their views with us so that we are able to look at the consequences of withdrawing the subsidies of these routes before any final decisions are made. I’d encourage all residents who use these services or know somebody who may be affected to complete the consultation and have their say.

Councillor Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities

Bridgend County Borough Council’s ‘Supported Bus Services’ consultation can be completed online via the consultation pages before the closing date of Sunday 10 March 2019. Paper copies and alternative formats are also available by contacting the Consultation team on 01656 643664.