Agenda item

Proposer:              Councillor Meirion Davies

Seconder:              Councillor Paul Hinge

Council notes:

Given the crisis facing the rural bus network in Ceredigion and rural Wales, Ceredigion Council urges Welsh Government to set up a rural transport task force to urgently tackle this issue.

We recognise that residents and visitors have not returned to public transport post-Covid, in the numbers we would expect. However, as a result of the withdrawal of many rural bus routes due to affordability, our communities are becoming increasingly isolated from accessing public services and socialising with friends and family.

The withdrawal of many rural bus routes exacerbates rural poverty where the impact is felt most greatly. Vulnerable adults, including older people, and those without transport have a right to access public transport in their communities.

Ceredigion Council supports Welsh Government's focus on tackling the climate emergency. Yet by asking residents to move from cars to public transport, investment and the accompanying subsidy for a rural transport infrastructure is required.

Rural transport must have parity with our larger towns and cities if we are to seriously tackle the climate emergency, and to prevent rural communities from being further isolated.

Therefore, Council notes:

1.    That Ceredigion Council asks Welsh Government to acknowledge that there needs to be investment in transport in rural communities, and subsidised accordingly.

2.    That public transport in rural communities such as those in Ceredigion, which have been adversely impacted by the underfunding of public transport from Welsh Government, seeks parity of access similar to larger communities.

3.    That a rural transport task force is established immediately by Welsh Government and in conjunction with key stakeholders like Ceredigion Council, to tackle the issue of rural transport.

Proposer:     Councillor Meirion Davies

Seconder: Councillor Paul Hinge

Given the crisis facing the rural bus network in Ceredigion and rural Wales, Ceredigion Council urges Welsh Government to set up a rural transport task force to urgently tackle this issue.

We recognise that residents and visitors have not returned to public transport post-Covid, in the numbers we would expect. However, as a result of the withdrawal of many rural bus routes due to affordability, our communities are becoming increasingly isolated from accessing public services and socialising with friends and family.

The withdrawal of many rural bus routes exacerbates rural poverty where the impact is felt most greatly. Vulnerable adults, including older people, and those without transport have a right to access public transport in their communities. 

Ceredigion Council supports Welsh Government's focus on tackling the climate emergency. Yet by asking residents to move from cars to public transport, investment and the accompanying subsidy for a rural transport infrastructure is required.

Rural transport must have parity with our larger towns and cities if we are to seriously tackle the climate emergency, and to prevent rural communities from being further isolated.

Therefore, Council notes:

1.   That Ceredigion Council asks Welsh Government to acknowledge that there needs to be investment in transport in rural communities, and subsidised accordingly.

2.   That public transport in rural communities such as those in Ceredigion, which have been adversely impacted by the underfunding of public transport from Welsh Government, seeks parity of access similar to larger communities.

3.   That a rural transport task force is established immediately by Welsh Government and in conjunction with key stakeholders like Ceredigion Council, to tackle the issue of rural transport.

Councillor Meirion Davies gave an outline of the current situation noting that residents are being isolated by the lack of public transport and unable to attend medical appointments, shopping and banking, and that he has concerns regarding the welfare and health of these residents.  The cost of living crisis meant that not everyone can afford to run a car, and that the loss of the Saturday bus service and reduction to other services was having an effect on the youth in his and other Wards.  He noted that the Welsh Government should finance transport services because of the impact upon those living in rural areas, and in line with their emphasis on the environment.  He noted his concern that the Bus Emergency scheme (BES) was due to end, which will have a greater impact on those living in rural areas, and that Ben Lake MP, Elin Jones MS and Jane Dodds MS have all noted their support for its continuation.

Councillor Paul Hinge commended Councillor Meirion Davies on his explanation of the importance of transport for Ceredigion, which had also been reflected in the presentation by the representatives from the Youth Council earlier in the day.  He noted that Welsh Government should be thinking more broadly and consider the health and the wellbeing of future generations, however no resources have been provided to deliver this. He called for a Rural Taskforce to be set up immediately including key stakeholders to look at the proper distribution of wealth and parity with other places in Wales in order to tackle the problem of rural transport.

Councillor Bryan Davies noted that he fully endorsed the Motion, and that discussions take place regularly with Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change at the WLGA Rural Forum. He noted that Lee Waters is eager to ensure that every village has access to transport, however, the Welsh Government definition of a village is that of 200 or more residences, which does not apply to the majority of villages in Ceredigion.  Following COVID, there has been demographical changes including home working, with fewer people using the bus services, which is having an impact on local businesses, however this is something that he would hope to discuss if the forum is established.  He also noted that they would need to look at a 10–15 year plan, and not just the current situation, and it would also need to consider the re-opening of the railway.

Councillor Gareth Lloyd noted the knock-on effect on the Local Development Plan, due to the Welsh Government guidance stating that a community is not sustainable unless it has a bus service, which would mean that no new houses would be built unless they were on the main road corridor through the county.

Councillor Elizabeth Evans noted her full support, and thanked everyone for the support across the Chamber.

Councillor Alun Williams noted that in order to reduce the number of cars on the roads, there would need to be an excellent bus transport system.  He noted that Ceredigion had also been at a disadvantage in terms of the Active Travel with only 3 towns in Ceredigion qualifying for the scheme.  Two thirds of Wales are rural areas therefore the Welsh Government should be good at this, and he hoped that these views would be reflected by neighbouring authorities due to the impact on the economy, health and a low carbon Wales.

Councillor Keith Henson noted that he has raised these matters with Lee Robinson, the Transport for Wales Director for North Wales, as the Chairman for Tracc Cymru and is awaiting response to his request for data relating to this.  He also noted that there is a lack of providers and drivers and this would also need to be reviewed. He noted that Dolen Teifi provide an excellent service also, which would need to be looked at in the long term.

Councillor Bryan Davies noted that Members have met with the Hywel Dda University Health Board a few weeks ago regarding proposals to build a new hospital in the Whitland area and noted that they have raised their concerns regarding accessibility for the residents of Ceredigion due to tha lack of public transport.

Councillor Gwyn Wigley Evans clarified that the reference made by Professor Stuart Cole to the railway link being unlikely to happen in the next 30- to 40 years was due to financial reasons, and that operating 3 buses a day to Carmarthen would be significantly cheaper than reinstating the railway line.

Following a vote, it was RESOLVED to agree the motion as presented.