Community Transport Operator To Provide Neath Bus Service

Community Transport operator DANSA are stepping in to provide replacement buses for one Neath service shortly to be withdrawn by First Cymru. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The existing 154 service provides services to the village of Cilfrew and Forest Hill but from June 6th the company has advised Neath Port Talbot Council and residents that it will no longer operate the service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

DANSA (Dulais, Afan, Neath, Swansea and Amman Valleys), a not-for-profit community transport organisation, will be providing a comparable service to Cilfrew and are considering a bespoke service to Forest Hill. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Residents of Cilfrew should not notice much difference because it is planned to provide four services a day Monday to Friday. This is achieved by fitting the village into the existing 161 Glynneath service.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

DANSA provides low cost transport services to individuals and organisations whose needs are not met by commercial bus services.
In Forest Hill DANSA will be able to provide a bespoke service with a smaller vehicle to people who are unable to access the existing bus stops on the main road. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

DANSA has developed its services to meet the transport needs of older people, people with disabilities and people who are unable to access conventional public transport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Leader of Neath Port Talbot, Council Cllr Ali Thomas OBE said: “It is always difficult when a bus company withdraws a service that many people come to rely on. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In this case we are delighted that DANSA are able to provide a replacement service to help the people in Cilfrew and a bespoke ‘dial a ride’ service for the residents of Forest Hill.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​