Posted: Thu 10th Oct 2024

Concerns over plans to cut several Flintshire bus services

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

Concerns have been raised over plans to cut several bus services in Flintshire due to a reduction in Welsh Government funding and rising costs.

Financial support provided by the devolved government to ensure bus companies could continue to operate during the Covid pandemic came to an end earlier this year.

It was replaced by grants for local authorities to tender for non-commercial services, with North Wales councils collectively receiving £5.6m.

However, Flintshire Council previously revealed some services in the county could be scaled back despite a better financial outlook than was originally expected.

A senior official told a meeting of councillors this week that an increase in contract costs and a shortfall in grant funding had led to a £317,000 budget pressure.

One of the main options being examined to close the budget gap is to terminate the number 5 service running between Mold to Ellesmere Port at Deeside Industrial Park.

Meanwhile, Arriva Buses Wales is carrying out a review of services, including the X4 Mold to Chester Business Park route, to help find further savings.

Buckley Pentrobin councillor Mike Peers (Ind) said he was opposed to the plans, particularly the one to shorten the route of the number 5.

He said: “This proposal to finish the service at Deeside Industrial Park does not benefit any residents who wish to shop at Ellesmere Port.

“There’s no train to Ellesmere Port unless you drive to Hooton and get the train or drive to Chester, and it defeats the object.

“When you get to Deeside Industrial Park, there’s no terminus and no bus shelter. The stops at Zone One are pieces of grass in the middle of nowhere.

“It’s very much like all the expense paid for the park and ride scheme at Deeside Industrial Park, which is pretty much a white elephant now.”

Officers told Tuesday’s (October 8, 2024) meeting of the environment and economy scrutiny committee the proposed change to the number 5 would help save up to £200,000 per year.

The service was re-procured in March which saw contract costs rise to £360,000 per year, an increase of £9,000 per month, which officials said was high compared to the number of passengers.

The X4 is grant funded at a cost of just under £350,000 per year, but the exact nature of the changes will not be known until Arriva has completed its review.

Cllr Sam Swash from the Flintshire People’s Voice group also opposed the cuts.

He said: “I support Cllr Peers in opposing the cuts to these services. I think we need better buses, not worse buses.

“It’s unfortunate that many of these subsidies go straight to private companies who will cut routes where they don’t make a profit.”

However, Katie Wilby, Flintshire’s chief officer for streetscene and transportation, said funding issues meant some changes were necessary.

She said: “We do have some shortfalls and pressures, unfortunately, both in-year and also building for next year as this grant is capped.

“It’s not an endless, bottomless pit that we can keep delving into, so it means that we’ve had to then cut down what we allocate.

“There is a shortfall of £270,000 for our local bus service subsidies. Then there’s a further £47,000 in terms of the regional shortfall for the bus network grant.”

Councillors supported the recommendations by four votes to three at the end of the debate, with two absentions.

The proposals will go to the council’s cabinet for final approval next week.

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter

 

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