News

First Minister confirms new bus services bill is coming soon

Published

2 years ago

February 8, 2024

THE FINAL touches are being put on a long-awaited bus services bill to reform the failed system of deregulation, Wales’ First Minister has told the Senedd.

Mark Drakeford said the bill will enable all levels of government to work with communities to design and deliver the services they need.

He assured MSs that the complex bill – which was withdrawn in 2020 due to a legislative logjam created by the pandemic – is now in its final stages of preparation.

Mr Drakeford said the plans will fundamentally change the landscape for bus services, and warned that the cost of the current system is inherently uncertain.

He told the chamber: “The future will be about subsidising routes, not individuals, so we will have a planned, agreed, stable and subsidised system of bus transport….

“We will be consulting the public, of course. We will be looking to see their views of those routes that are socially necessary – but not commercially viable.

“We will continue to invest the tens of millions of pounds that are put into the system today.”

‘Disastrous’

Huw Irranca-Davies, who represents Ogmore, said his constituents are frustrated by the lack of any real say over routes and timetables.

The Labour backbencher said: “When we had that disastrous – utterly disastrous – deregulation back in the 1980s, where the powers were stripped away from any democratic input … one place kept it and it was London.

“And, in London, the passenger numbers have gone up, the routes have been sustained, investment has been massive – everywhere else, it has fallen away.”

Mark Isherwood highlighted the barriers faced by disabled people when accessing services, raising concerns about inaccessible bus stations and transport touch screens.

The Conservative MS for North Wales said disabled people’s experiences should be embedded in plans for local services.

He cited the example of the Wrexham Gateway transport hub project, adding that Arriva was not consulted despite promotional material showing one of its buses.

Mr Drakeford agreed that the voice of service users, particularly disabled people, should be taken into account in the way in which services are designed and developed.

‘Detrimental’

Delyth Jewell said cuts to bus services in the valleys are having a hugely detrimental effect on people’s lives, warning about a lack of buses to the Grange University Hospital.

The Plaid Cymru MS, who represents South Wales East, told the chamber: “A constituent has written to me to complain that there is no direct bus from Caerphilly town.

“Their neighbour, who doesn’t drive, has been having to visit his wife in the Grange for three weeks by getting buses, and they’re having to catch two buses.

“The journey, apparently, can take more than an hour-and-a-half, which is the last thing anyone would want when they’re visiting a sick loved one.

“It can’t be right that the biggest town in the county has no direct access by bus to the main hospital. There are towns across the south-east that similarly have no bus route.”

Speaking during first minister’s questions on February 6, Prof Drakeford said a great deal of work has gone into creating new services to the Grange.

While he acknowledged the point, the first minister warned that any new service must be subsidised by the public purse because no commercial provider has stepped in.

Crime

Dock woman given mental health treatment order after supermarket thefts

Published

30 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK woman has been placed on a mental health treatment requirement after repeatedly stealing meat, cheese and other grocery items from local supermarkets.

Lisa Stewart, 45, admitted three theft offences when she appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

The first offence took place on March 11, when Stewart stole Vanish, Lenor and three packs of Persil capsules from Home Bargains in Pembroke Dock, with a total value of £58.41.

The following month, she stole four small beef joints, four steaks and three blocks of cheese from Asda in Pembroke Dock, worth £55.68.

Seven days later, she stole four legs of lamb from Farmfoods in Pembroke Dock, valued at £99.96.

Stewart, of Truscott House, London Road, Pembroke Dock, also pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to police bail on or around May 26.

She was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who told magistrates the thefts involved items of relatively low value and were not the result of “sophisticated offending”.

“The defendant has had an exceptionally difficult time, as last year she lost her partner to cancer and has struggled profoundly to process that grief,” said Ms Harries.

“Instead, she has attempted to cope by taking more of her prescribed medication than she should. And this is what has led her to be here today.”

Ms Harries said Stewart is now motivated to address her issues.

Magistrates sentenced Stewart to an 18-month community order. She must complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

The order will include monthly reviews in court.

Stewart must also pay £214.05 compensation to the supermarkets, together with a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Grandmother banned after cocaine drug-drive offence

Published

32 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A GRANDMOTHER has been banned from the roads after being caught behind the wheel with 800 mcg of a cocaine metabolite in her system.

Eleri Phillips, 57, was stopped by police in the early hours of December 18 as she drove her Audi Q5 along Derwent Avenue, Steynton.

A roadside drugs swipe proved positive, and further blood tests carried out at the police station showed she had 45 mcg of cocaine in her system and 800 mcg of benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite.

The legal limits are 10 mcg and 50 mcg respectively.

Phillips, of Brook Close, Steynton, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to two drug-driving charges when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. She was legally represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“She is absolutely ashamed of what has happened,” Mr Kelleher told the court.

“She had been out with friends that evening and someone offered her cocaine. Very foolishly, she took it.

“As a result, she is now going to be disqualified from driving, which is going to cause problems not only for her but for her family, as she regularly helps look after her grandchildren with general pick-ups from school.”

Phillips was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £120. She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Milford Haven builder banned for second drug-driving offence

Published

47 minutes ago

June 24, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Court hears cannabis reading was five times the legal limit

A SELF-EMPLOYED builder has been banned from the road after committing his second drug-driving offence in ten years.

Robert Duncan, 44, was stopped by police at around 6:00pm on January 31 as he drove a Ford Focus along Steynton Road, Milford Haven.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard this week that officers had been observing the vehicle before requesting it to stop.

Duncan provided a positive roadside drugs wipe, and later blood tests showed he had 10mcg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told magistrates that this was Duncan’s second drug-driving offence within ten years.

Duncan, of Meyler Crescent, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

He was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who said Duncan had believed the drug would have left his system by the time he got behind the wheel.

“He believed the drug would have been out of his system when he was driving, but it can take a considerable length of time to go,” said Mr Kelleher.

“In fact, this is the drug that takes the longest amount of time.”

Mr Kelleher said Duncan worked as a self-employed builder, but was currently unable to work large amounts of time because of family commitments.

Magistrates disqualified Duncan from driving for three years. He was also fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.