Council confirms Townlynx bus services have been operating as normal this week

Flintshire Council has confirmed a vital schools transport provider, which initially signalled it was halting its services, has been operating as normal this week.

Townlynx resumed its transport services this week following the company’s sudden “unprecedented and unacceptable” announcement on Friday that it was stopping operations.

Last Friday, a letter sent to parents via schools by Flintshire council stated: “We need to inform you that the Council was advised (at lunchtime today) that Townlynx Bus Services would not be operating any transport services after today, Friday 8th September.’

“This means that no school transport buses, college transport buses, and public transport services operated by Townlynx Bus Services will operate from tomorrow onwards.”

Chief Officer for Streetscene & Transportation, Katie Wilby, said at the time: “We understand that the unprecedented and unacceptable withdrawal of services announced on Friday 8 September caused significant concern for many people who rely on the transport services provided by Townlynx.”

However, by Saturday the council was formally notified that, contrary to the announcement made on Friday, Townlynx had reversed their decision to shut down transport services.

In a statement on Tuesday, Flintshire Council said: “Following the reversed decision by Townlynx Buses Ltd to continue running their transport operations, we can confirm that all Townlynx services operated yesterday (Monday) as normal.”

“Given the events of Friday afternoon and the uncertainty generated as a result, arrangements were made over the weekend for teams of officers from the Council to patrol the transport routes from 0700 hours to ensure that all pupils and students got to school and college safely and securely.”

“While we fully appreciate that the recent events will have impacted the confidence of transport users, the Council has received assurance from Townlynx Ltd that all transport operations have returned to normal and that there will be no recurrence of such events in the future.”