Funding Boost For Rural Community Bus Services

Community transport and vital rural community bus services are set for a £250,000 boost over coming months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

ollowing on from the announcement of the return of Sunday bus services on Gower, Swansea Council is also teaming up with community transport operator DANSA to extend the range of its services to more remote areas of the City and County. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The services operated by the community transport organisation are among a number of subsidised bus routes that the Council funds in an effort to meet the needs of residents in areas where commercial bus services are not viable or where community bus services are more appropriate and cost-effective. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The extra £250,000 was identified as part of Swansea Council’s budget for 2016/17 and is seen as vital to support rural communities in particular. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Among the services being provided are those providing vital links between Garnswllt, Felindre, Rhydypandy and Morriston Hospital, where it will connect with First Cymru’s Service 4 to and from Morriston and the city centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cath Swain, of the Council’s Transport Team, said: “For many residents, public transport is their only link to other parts of Swansea to get to places such as the shops, hospital appointments or the homes of family and friends. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have limited funds which we need to use effectively, but working with a community transport operator like DANSA means we can introduce these services in areas which would not otherwise be covered by public transport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The vehicles used by DANSA are Swansea Council minibuses from the council’s Social Services’ fleet when they’re not otherwise needed.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Alison Owen, of DANSA, said: “DANSA transport services can make a real difference in people’s lives, filling in the gaps where commercially-operated services don’t operate. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“For some residents in outlying areas who don’t have a car but need to make journeys into Swansea to see friends, go shopping or visit the hospital, our services can make all the difference.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​