Wrexham.com has invited the four North Wales Members of the Senedd to write a monthly column with updates on their work. You can find their updates – along with contributions from the local MPs and MSs – here.
In this month’s column, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd Sam Rowlands writes:
One of the big things that people raise with me across Wrexham and the rest of North Wales is bus routes, or the lack of them!
In far too many places there aren’t adequate bus routes, and huge swathes of Wales are left without a regular bus service.
This has a negative impact in many ways, ranging from the young person who is unable to get to their apprenticeship all the way to an elderly person who can’t get into their local town for a coffee.
This doubly applies to rural areas, where bus links are all too often an afterthought and people are left stranded.
It’s been well-publicised that the Welsh Government wants to get more people using public transport, but frankly the networks simply aren’t good enough for that to happen. After a quarter-century of rule by the Labour Welsh Government in Cardiff, people still need to use their cars because there simply isn’t reliable public transport in the vast majority of the country.
It’s also clear that transport links have a terrible economic impact. Well-functioning transport networks are crucial to any modern economy, whether that is buses, trains, trams or roads.
I do welcome any improvements to buses, of course. For example, the T3 bus route between Wrexham and Barmouth has recently been enhanced, with better connectivity and accessibility.
It’s certainly a start, but it’s clear that a lot more needs to be done at all levels to deliver a bus service that is fit for 2025.
I want to see bus operators, local authorities, the Welsh Government and regional bodies all working together to implement well-thought out and practical bus routes with buses that are on time and have adequate capacity.
I recently met a number of businesses on Wrexham Industrial Estate, which is home to some big companies like JCB, Kellogg’s and Net World Sports. It’s a big employer in the area, and these companies have a genuine global reach.
They told me that transport links to the Estate simply aren’t good enough. That’s terrible for employees, who should have efficient public transport that means they can get to work on time, and also get home in a prompt manner at the end of the day.
Poor transport links will also discourage other businesses for investing. Getting the bus network right is vital for the local economy, in order to boost the levels of investment and job creation.
As one example, poor public transport links limits the catchment area where employees can be hired from. It also restricts potential employees to just those with a car. This has a particular negative effect on young people who are starting out in the job market.
I’ve asked both the First Minister and Transport Cabinet Secretary in the Senedd about these links, calling for the Welsh Government to stand up and take notice.
There is a project currently underway to look at how public transport around the site can be improved, but I have heard frustration at the slow pace of change and lack of certainty.
It’s something that shouldn’t be kicked into the long grass – we need swift action, because excessive delays mean uncertainty and a risk to jobs.
Things like this really should be a no-brainer – if there is a cluster of companies in an area, then there should be decent transport links to and from there. It really would be good for everyone.
The Welsh Government are bringing forward a Bus Services Bill this year, and we keenly await the details of the Bill.
There is no doubt that improvements are needed in the quality of bus travel across Wales, but the Labour-run Cardiff Government have had a long time to fix public transport and they have failed to do so.
As the Welsh Conservative spokesman on Transport matters, I’ll be following this very closely and tabling appropriate amendments.
As ever, if you’d like to get in touch then you can drop me an email at sam.rowlands@senedd.wales