Council's support for threatened bus service
The Vale of Glamorgan Council has agreed to continue its
support for a local bus service which was threatened following the
withdrawal of the current operator.
EST Bus Ltd indicated it would be surrendering its contract for
routes 88/89 (Barry-Penarth-Llandough Hospital-Cardiff Bay-Cardiff)
on 28 July, and the council has now accepted a new tender from
First Cymru who will continue the service uninterrupted in the
current financial year.
Cabinet member for planning and transportation Cllr Jeffrey
James said that, although there had been a 68 per cent increase in
the tender price, the cost could be met from the authority's
current budgets which are supported by a Welsh Assembly Local
Transport Service Grant.
The services have operated for the last six years running every
90 minutes during the day. Service 88, which provides a link with
the Bendricks, terminates at Llandough Hospital and links into 89
which provides the only service to St David's Crescent and
Westbourne Road, Penarth, and the town's pier and marina. Cllr
James, who said the service would be kept under review, added:
"Both services are considered socially necessary and are well used
by older residents."
Timetables will remain the same and will continue to run daily
throughout the summer. Following passenger requests, Service 89
will be re-routed to run via Bridgeman Road in Penarth in both
directions, with the pier continuing to be served, but the stop on
Cliff Road will be discontinued.
Timetables for the services can be accessed online or by calling 01446
700111.
21/07/2008