Local Politics

[dingo20]

RIP 73 long live the 19 looks like you can a bus from the orme to betws y coed according to the 19 timetable bit of a long journey but I'm sure the people of betws y coed would enjoy the day out!

[DaveR]

Even better, the X6 bus runs every Sat at 8.05 from Tyn y Coed to Bala. 

[Bri Roberts]

Who provides the X6 service, DaveR?

[DaveR]

Think its Padarn Bus.

[Cambrian]

Had a look at the Conwy bus/train booklet.  The X6 seems to run all week leaving TynyCoed Road at 0805 then going via West Shore and Maesdu Road to the A470.  It gets to Corwen at 0945 where presumably there will be connections to Bala, Dolgellau, Llangollen and Wrexham. (on Thursday it seems to go through to Bala and on Saturday goes to Llangollen) The return time varies from day to day.  Scope here for some good days out - well worth a look on pages 60 and 61.

[Bri Roberts]

Can someone please answer a couple of questions for me?

•   Can I use my free bus pass on all bus services and not just Arriva Buses?

•   Can I use my free bus pass throughout North Wales and not just in the County of Conwy?

[DaveR]

Yes, and Yes.

[Cambrian]

Bri - you can also use it on the Llandudno - Blaenau railway and intermediately.  Quite useful for say going up by train and back by the X1.  I think at certain times of the year it can be used on the Heart of Wales line as  well.

One interesting aside - if you go to Chester, the free bus no longer operates but you can use the Cerdyn Cymru to get one of the fairly frequent Mold or Wrexham buses from out side the station.  These drop off by Mark & Sparks.  Not sure if you can do the free trip from M&S to the Station - possibly the machine won't accept the cards from that stop to terminal stop in England.

[Bri Roberts]

Thank you both. 

[Yorkie]

Yes, and Yes.

I believe there is a restriction on the Trans-Cambrian Express, but only ever having used my Bus Pass once, I am not an expert on the matter.     

[DaveR]

I just had a look and was amazed to see that the Free Bus Pass scheme costs £66m a year in Wales alone*.

People other than Free Pass holders using bus services have been hit by several fare rises recently, not to mention the complete scrapping of Return fares which has resulted in a return trip from Llandudno-Colwyn Bay costing over £5. Furthermore, the shortage of money in the WG Transport Budget has meant that several bus services have been withdrawn locally. Bearing all that in mind, would it not be reasonable to ask Bus Pass holders to pay a nominal 20p a trip charge, I'm sure this would bring down the overall cost of the scheme significantly?

*- http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/07/26/sharp-rise-in-cost-of-free-bus-passes-for-elderly-91466-26930087/

[Fester]

I have to agree entirely.

I believe that things such as free bus travel and free prescriptions are (were) a fantastic and noble idea, when the country was awash with money.  (or so we were led to believe)
Quite a few of these items need to be reviewed now, in light of the financial reality which has come light.

[Ian]

Perhaps getting the wealthiest to pay their fair share should be tacked first...

[DaveR]

Perhaps getting the wealthiest to pay their fair share should be tacked first...

Isn't that what he is doing by highlighting the issue? Although, it should be noted that nothing illegal is being done. It would be a fool that pays tax when there is no requirement to do so.

[Ian]

Indeed, but the problem in the UK is that the law has always favoured the rich and penalised the poor.