THE potential withdrawal of subsidies for bus services in Wales has prompted a call from Plaid Cymru member of the Senedd for South Wales Central, Heledd Fychan, to call on the public to make their concerns known.

For the past couple of years money has been provided by the Welsh Government to keep services running after passengers plummeted during the Covid pandemic. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, the emergency scheme is set to be withdrawn as Deputy Transport Minister Lee Waters said there was not enough left in the devolved government's budget to maintain it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌

That, says Ms Fychan, poses a serious risk to the future of bus services in the Vale and throughout Wales, who says: "The potential withdrawal of bus subsidies from April which could close or seriously reduce bus services in our area.

"The total cuts would be £28 million across Wales and around a million in the Vale."

It was even a possibility that the subsidy could be withdrawn immediately but After a week of discussion between councils, bus companies and Welsh Government a three month extension has been announced, but at the end of that period the services will again face withdrawal or serious reductions.

Ms Fychan has already raised this threat in the Senedd with Labour Ministers and has called on more members of the public to air their views, adding: "If you want to help us in our campaign to protect bus services let us know by calling 07725 497423.

The Senedd members is a fierce advocate of bus services, and was responsible to setting up a watch service to enable concersn to be raised.