THE FFLECSI Bwcabus service will finish on thirty first October 2023.
The information comes after the Welsh Government confirmed that it could not have the ability to contribute to the scheme following the ending of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) Grant that had been supporting it till the top of June this yr.
Since the RDP funding got here to an finish, Welsh Government has been totally funding the service.
Discussions have taken place over 18 months between officers from Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion County Councils and officers from the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales.
Welsh Government secured new buses for these providers as lately as July 2023 and there was a degree of optimism that issues have been progressing positively. The information that there isn’t a funding available to assist the providers shifting ahead is, subsequently, a shocking and important blow to customers in essentially the most rural areas of West Wales.
The fflecsi Bwcabus (beforehand Bwcabus) has been working for 14 years offering a chance to journey by public transport in a few of the most rural areas of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. The service was supplied in partnership between the native authorities, Transport for Wales and the Welsh Government, and had been thought to align with the Welsh Government’s imaginative and prescient for rural transport options as outlined in its transport coverage, Llwybr Newydd.
Councillor Rhys Sinnett, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, mentioned “We are saddened to see the loss of this service, and are concerned about the impact this will have on the rural north east of Pembrokeshire. We will support our neighbouring colleagues in pressing the Welsh Government to support bus service provision in this area, and also look at what workable solutions there may be for this provision.”
Councillor Keith Henson, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Environmental Services and Carbon Management, mentioned “This service operates in the Ward I represent so I know how this will affect people. While we welcome the ambition and aspiration the Welsh Government has set out in its Transport Plan, Llwybr Newydd, in rural areas, as we are unfortunately seeing a loss or reduction of service because the investment simply isn’t there at the required levels to maintain services such as this. We will continue in our lobbying of the Welsh Government to ensure that rural areas get a fair slice of the cake, and that the challenges associated with accessing public transport in rural areas are recognised and that Welsh Government guarantee that sufficient resources and funding is provided to ensure that they are met.”
Councillor Edward Thomas, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services, mentioned: “I’m extremely sad and disappointed at the loss of a great service that should be receiving continued support. This is extremely sad news for those who relied on these services. The service offered a level of travel opportunity by bus that could not be met by other means. The rural nature of the areas served with a low population density means that there isn’t the critical mass of people wanting to travel at the same time to the same places which means traditional bus services just don’t work. Unfortunately, it now seems that this innovative approach which aligns with the vision within Llwybr Newydd isn’t sustainable either. I would like to thank all the staff and operators involved with providing the service for over 14 years. I can only sympathise with them and the passengers who will be affected by this and can promise them that, working with the key stakeholders most notably the Welsh Government, we will continue in our endeavours to find workable affordable solutions to those affected.”
The fflecsi Bwcabus has been an modern and nationwide award-winning service which provided a degree of journey alternatives each to native centres and as a method of accessing different bus providers, most notably the TrawsCymru, at key hubs.
