BC4
Proposed Provision of Bus and Coach Services Legislative Competence Order
Response from Councillor Hughes
Dear Huw
Bridgend CBC held a Bus surgery in the Bus station in May '08 which was very successful. Customers were able to ask questions of the bus companies that serve the Borough and will hopefully, as a result, provide an improved service.
The event will be repeated next year
Points that arose were:
a) The need for frequent clean safe and dependable local bus services for those such as the elderly who can no longer walk long distances.
These buses do not have to be large.
b) An appreciation of free bus passes for the over 60’s.
c) The question "why can’t these bus passes be used across the border in England”/. One lady was adamant that English people could use their pass in Wales.
Is this true?
d) The bus link between Bridgend and the airports in London and Cardiff were also considered to be high priority.
e) The idea that school buses could be used by the public between dropping off school children in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon was also suggested.
Therefore, the proposed LCO will strengthen the public service ethos
Improve safety on school transport i.e. assessment of drivers and use of safety belts
Serve socially valuable routes by using cooperative and mutual models by liaising with local people via Bus surgeries as above
Encourage people to use public transport and therefore reduce CO2 omissions.
Consultation Questions
1) Yes. Westminster is too far away for local issues. WAG has the competence to do so
2) LCO is correct in that it covers integration, socially valuable routes. Regular services modern transport and safe
3) All of them so that the WAG has total control rather than piecemeal
4) The important point is that the buses must be safe and the drivers must be safe i.e. not on drugs
5) Essential in order to improve safety of our children to and from school
I hope these observations have been of some use Huw
Sincerely
Cllr Mrs Edith M Hughes (Oldcastle ward Bridgend)
