FREE heritage bus rides in Barry will commemorate the end of the urban district councils (UDC’s) – 40 years ago, this Sunday, May 4.

The Cardiff Transport Preservation Group will off the rides all day from its 1930’s centre, the Bus Depot, Broad Street in Barry.

The UDC’s could with an Act of Parliament, run their own buses.

Some former Urban District Council’s buses are in the heritage collection at Barry.

The Running Day means there will be a bus departing The Bus Depot giving free travel, every half hour throughout the day to a local destination.

Some will be special visiting privately owned heritage buses and all buses will be between 33 to 62 years old.

Chairman of the heritage bus restoration group, Mike Taylor said: “We are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the End of the UDC’s – the Urban District Councils that once existed across South Wales.

“There were several - Aberdare, Caerphilly, Pontypridd, Bedwas & Machen, Gelligaer, and the West Monmouthshire Board. We have some heritage buses from these old councils - some giving free rides and others that are under restoration. We are also raising

funds to bring a special old bus, a 63-year-old half-cab AEC Bedwas and Machen UDC single decker back from South Africa – the last single deck bus built in

Cardiff in 1951.”

Visiting buses including two single deckers, include some surprises and a 1952 Leyland that operated in Caerphilly and a Bristol that once ran in the Valleys from Aberdare and eastward over to Chepstow.

Barry Heritage Group has bought another Open Top bus.

Mike said: “It used to run in Cardiff, but at the moment it’s in a bright yellow colour – not the traditional orange. We are sure if it arrives in time, and the sun is out it will be extremely popular.

“We tried out a Running Day for the first time last year and we were surprised how popular it was especially amongst local people. A different heritage bus will depart in rotation, on three bus routes one every thirty minutes. We will be selling a timetable on the day to go towards the cost of fuel and donations for getting the bus in South Africa back to Barry. This is our first major public activity this year as a warm up to our big Festival of Transport on

Barry Island on June 8 when we are expecting over 200 classic and vintage cars.”