Fury over bus route economy (From Barry And District News)

Fury over bus route economy

ANGRY Barry residents are demanding a revamp of the bus services, they claim, have left them isolated.

Locals living in and around Cadoxton and the Colcot have met with Cardiff Bus to protest at the cutback in routes that have made it almost impossible for them to get around town.

At a Hafod Tenants Federation meeting last week, Cardiff Bus commercial manager Peter Heath was grilled by Vicki Ibbertson and Marjorie Milner, both from Newhouse Court. They questioned him over decisions to stop services to and from the two areas.

Marjorie, 64, said: "We have to take two buses to get across town and back home, and the old service used to pass Barry Hospital.

Now it's difficult for anyone living here without transport to get about.

These means small traders are also suffering because their customers from the Colcot can't get to them. It's easier to go into the town."

The two women's claims were backed up by both Assembly Member Jane Hutt and Labour's Cadoc councillor Neil Moore.

Ms Hutt said: "Both residents and businesses in Cadoxton have lost their service to the Colcot, which also took them to Barry hospital.

I totally support their call for a review of this decision.

"We also asked Cardiff Bus to open their King Square office on market day, and more often, and to provide a return transfer concession to help those who now have to take two buses across town."

Peter Heath said: "Following a useful meeting, Cardiff Bus plans to repeat the experiment to open its King Square office coinciding with Tuesday market days.

If the office receives sufficient usage to justify additional opening hours, we will consider the move on a permanent basis.

But he stressed: "Cardiff Bus has no plans to reintroduce the previous Colcot - Barry Hospital service because there is not enough demand to make the service commercially viable.

We are investigating the possibility of introducing a return version of our Barry transfare ticket at the next fares review later this year.

The single version is already available."