Key questions ignored in Council debate of the Barry Dock bus station

Last year, the council spent £27 million building a new bus station next to the existing railway station at Barry Docks.

The Barry Transport interchange was developed to improve connectivity in the Vale and so far has a taxi rank bike shelters and bus stops.

Construction on phase one of the interchange started in January 2023, but no buses have operated from the new bus station.

Plaid Cymru Leader in the Vale, Councillor Ian Johnson said: “The Barry Docks bus station has been on the cards since 2006, and was given the go-ahead after the Covid pandemic, when it was already clear that the bus industry was in decline with a reduction in passengers requiring extra subsidy from Welsh Government. 

“Councillors need to understand at what point it was clear that neither Cardiff Bus nor Adventure Travel would be willing to provide a frequent bus service to Barry Docks. We need to know when, if ever, the reducing number of passengers on buses was discussed or considered when it was decided to go ahead with the scheme.

“Finally, we need to know what plans there are to improve the situation and have a bus station worthy of the name and doing the job it’s supposed to do, as a transport hub for Barry.”

From Monday, January 8, the B3 service operated by Adventure Travel will stop at the location on its route to Cadoxton from Barry and on its way back.

The service, which is funded by the council, will run an hourly service, seven times during the day, There are also eight trains per hour using Barry Docks train station.

Plaid Cymru Barry Docks councillor, Cllr Millie Collins, also criticised the implementation of the scheme, saying: “It is disappointing that the Vale Council failed to reach an agreement with bus companies for services to use it before its completion.  

“Instead, we have seen services terminated, routes changed and complaints about the reliability of existing bus timetables. 

The mayor of Barry had some crucial questions about the interchange in a recent council meeting (Image: Newsquest)

The mayor of Barry highlighted his disappointment no bus companies had been arranged to service the site before it was completed (Image: Supplied)

Cllr Bronwen Brooks, Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet member for sustainable places, said: “At a difficult time for bus operators, due to declining usage and reducing Welsh Government funding, I’m pleased that we can provide this service from the Barry Dock Transport Interchange.

“The changes made to the timetable will increase service reliability, part of wider council work to improve this aspect of bus provision.

“We know a large number of residents depend on bus transport to travel around the county, which is why we want to provide a more useful, effective service.

“This should be of particular benefit to residents in Gibbonsdown, western and central Barry who will have a direct bus service into the interchange and is the latest development regarding that facility, with work continuing to further add to the services on offer.”