Statement RE bus services in Merthyr Tydfil

Further to recent statements made by Dawn Bowden MS regarding bus services in Merthyr Tydfil, we would like to remind residents that the vast majority of the local bus service network is run purely on a commercial basis by bus operators and therefore the Council has no control over how this operates and all decisions on the services are made on a financial basis by the operator.  An annual bus services grant is provided to the Council by Welsh Government, which only funds a very small number of necessary services to isolated areas.

The recent service disruptions and cancellations on bus networks, both locally and across the region, have been attributed by bus operators to driver availability and the continued impact of Covid 19.

The Council is currently working with the Association of Transport and the Welsh Local Government Association in responding to the Welsh Government’s consultation for new bus legislation. This will look to allow the creation of a new system of bus franchising to provide a more comprehensive and sustainable model.