A Senedd member in Wales has taken it upon himself to provide lifts to people in his local area who struggle due to the inadequacy of the bus service. Dwyfor Meirionnydd MS Mabon ap Gwynfor highlighted the significant gaps in the bus schedule, especially on Sundays when no services run at all in parts of his constituency. This lack of public transport has negatively impacted the quality of life for residents, with many facing long waits or having to resort to walking substantial distances.
Mabon ap Gwynfor revealed that since the route of the T3 service was altered a year ago, people from Llanuwchllyn to Corwen have been adversely affected. He shared, “Truth be told, I have to give a lift very often to people when I see them in Bala, back home from a doctor’s appointment or from work or from a shopping trip because they can’t catch the bus or have to wait hours until the next bus—not to mention Sundays, when there is no bus service at all.” Older individuals have been left stranded along the roadside, having to trek long distances back home, while young people have missed out on activities like sports clubs due to the lack of reliable transportation options.
In response to these issues, Transport Secretary Ken Skates expressed his gratitude to Mabon ap Gwynfor for highlighting the matter and acknowledged the dissatisfaction with the T3 service. Skates pledged to reexamine the route in question as part of a broader review of the entire transport network. He stated that further consultations would be conducted to gather input from stakeholders before any decision on timetable or route changes is made. Skates also expressed willingness to visit the constituency alongside Mabon ap Gwynfor to assess the situation firsthand.
The initiative taken by Mabon ap Gwynfor has shed light on the challenges faced by many communities in Wales due to inadequate public transport services. By bringing attention to these issues at the political level, there is hope for potential improvements in the accessibility and reliability of bus services for residents in the affected areas.