COUNCIL chiefs have been asked to consider introducing a municipal public transport company after the actions of privately owned firms have left some villages like "deserts for buses."

The comments were made by Hawarden: Mancot Councillor Sam Swash at a meeting of Flintshire's full council on Tuesday afternoon.

He told the meeting: "None of us in this chamber can escape the damage of the failed 30 year experiment that bus privatisation has had on the very fabric of our communities.

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"Villages like Mancot are now complete deserts for buses, with routes dropped at the stroke of a pen by private company bosses with little care for the social damage left behind by those decisions.

"Indeed, just this month this council and our residents were left in the sickening situation where parents were left scrambling to get their children to school thanks to a private bus company unilaterally cancelling school routes with no notice.

"[This is] a clear local example of the disastrous impacts of privatisation on our communities.

"In light of this, will the cabinet member reconsider the case for a publicly owned municipal bus company?"

Cllr Dave Hughes, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for streetscene and the regional transport strategy, answered: "If we had the money, I would say definitely yes.

"I applaud what the councillor has put forward and I am sure that we can consider this if we have the money and if legislation comes through."

Highways network manager Barry Wilkinson told the meeting: "I would add that the Welsh Government is considering legislation changes and are in discussions with councils.

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"We would need to consider a significant number of issues that we would have to overcome to consider a municipal bus company - recruitment, training and investment, along with the funding.

"There are a number of challenges and rightly so, because legislation is strong in the transportation area to ensure we operate appropriately.

"It would require some significant options appraisal to see whether this would be appropriate going forward."

 

Has your community become a 'desert for buses'? We'd like to hear about your experieces - email steve.craddock@nwn.co.uk