THE WELSH Parliament has given the green light for a bus services overhaul, putting ministers in the driving seat to decide routes, timetables and fares.

Senedd Members voted 34-10, with two abstentions, in favour of a bill to replace the current system in which private operators decide most routes on a commercial basis.

A franchising model, similar to London’s, will be rolled out as Wales ditches deregulation introduced by the Thatcher government in the 1980s, with a 56% fall in journeys since.

Under the bus bill, which lifts limits on councils running services, the Welsh Government will take control of the network, with Transport for Wales responsible for implementation.

The draft law was introduced because private operators often cut “socially necessary” but unprofitable routes, leaving people stranded and forcing ministers to step in with subsidies.

The new system, which has been about a decade in the making, will be introduced in phases over about five years in four regions, beginning in south-west Wales in 2027.

An impact assessment put the total costs of the reforms over 30 years at £623m which was outweighed by estimated benefits of £3.6bn, a return of approximately £5 for every £1 spent.

Ken Skates, Wales’ transport secretary, said passing the “landmark” bill will put people first in the design and delivery of bus services.

He told the Senedd: “It will restore growth to the industry and it will also help to create one network, one timetable, one ticket across public transport.

“Vote for this bill and we will, finally, have the tools to transform public transport for the better in Wales.”

But Sam Rowlands, the Conservatives’ shadow transport secretary, depicted the “rushed” plans as fundamentally flawed and overly focused on urban areas.

Warning rural Wales has been neglected, Mr Rowlands said: “One-third of the population of Wales live in rural areas yet there is no clear vision for rural bus networks.”

He told Senedd Members the franchising model will not work in Wales and risk creating a “one-size-fits-all” system that is “too rigid to respond to local needs”.

Mr Rowlands warned smaller bus operators could be pushed out and he bemoaned a “once-in-a-generation” missed opportunity to create an accessible bus network.

Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewell backed the bill and welcomed amendments to include school transport when planning bus services, with a duty to consider access to education.

Jenny Rathbone, a Labour backbencher, described the bus bill as an “essential measure” to make better use of taxpayers’ money through a more rational system.

She said: “Currently, we have to lay on special school buses to transport secondary school pupils… because there’s no public bus to get them there. Instead, rival groups of public and private bus providers compete for the most profitable routes.”

Ms Rathbone told Senedd Members it cost Cardiff almost as much to transport children with additional learning needs (£11.1m) as it did to educate them (£11.3m) last year.

Carolyn Thomas, a fellow Labour politician, said the bill will address the issue of operators having to be heavily subsidised to take on less lucrative contracts in rural areas.

With no legal challenge expected following the final “stage-four” vote on December 9, the bill – which was delayed by the pandemic – should receive royal assent in the coming weeks.

A CALL for a special group to evaluate “sustainable, inclusive, and effective practices for the maintenance of local Gypsy Traveller sites within the county” is to be heard by Pembrokeshire councillors later this week.

In a notice of motion before the December 12 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembroke Monkton and St Mary South councillor Aaron Carey will call for ‘The establishment of a cross-departmental Working Group for the maintenance of local Gypsy Traveller sites’.

Cllr Carey’s motion reads: “That council agrees to the establishment of a cross-departmental working group, comprised of relevant council representatives, stakeholders, and representatives of local Gypsy Traveller communities, with the objective of assessing, evaluating, and recommending sustainable, inclusive, and effective practices for the maintenance of local Gypsy Traveller sites within the county.

“The working group will: Assess the current condition of Gypsy Traveller sites, including infrastructure, safety, sanitation, and accessibility. Engage with Gypsy Traveller communities to understand their specific needs and concerns regarding site maintenance.

“Review best practices from other local authorities and regions for managing and maintaining Gypsy Traveller sites. Consider the financial and resource implications of maintenance proposals and develop a clear action plan.

“Provide recommendations to the council for improvements and sustainable management of the sites, with the aim of improving living conditions for residents. The working group will present its findings and recommendations to full Council/Cabinet/O&S (where appropriate) within six months of the establishment of the group, following a series of consultations and site visits.”

Cllr Carey’s notice will be heard by members at the meeting.

Party says momentum growing among local representatives

FOUR independent town councillors in Towyn and Kinmel Bay have announced they are joining Reform UK.

Luke Knightly, Dave Johnson, Debbie Mulvaney and Geoff Corry issued a joint statement saying they were “joining the only party that is putting our left-behind communities first.”

Their move follows the defection of Pontypool community councillor Nick Jones last week, and comes in the constituency represented in the Senedd by Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar.

In a joint statement, the four councillors said: “Towyn and Kinmel Bay, just like so many parts of Wales, have been failed by the political establishment. We’re delighted to be joining the only party that is putting our left-behind communities first.

“Right across Wales, hardworking community representatives are making the same decision and joining Reform. That’s because Reform is the party that will deliver real change for our community and for communities right across Wales.”

A photograph was supplied with the announcement.