Despite recent investment in new vehicles, Transport for Wales (TFW) has announced that its Fflecsi Bwcabus service in rural areas of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire will end at the end of October after 14 years on the road. Carmarthenshire council said there had been optimism it would be able to carry on and that this would be a ‘surprising and significant blow’ for users of the service. The service was supported by a rural development grant until June, and thereafter by the Welsh Government, which said it would not continue to fund the service, stating: “Despite promises that Wales would not be a penny worse off after Brexit, the UK Government has failed to replace funding for rural transport schemes previously supported by EU. Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to continue supporting the Bwcabus service.”
Ceredigion council’s highways member Keith Henson told local media: “We are unfortunately seeing a loss or reduction of service because the investment simply isn’t there,” whilst Carmarthenshire council’s transport member Edward Thomas, said he was ‘sad and disappointed’ by the news, adding: “The rural nature of the areas served with a low population density means that there isn’t the critical mass of people wanting to travel at the same time.”
Pembrokeshire council’s residents’ services member Rhys Sinnett said the council would look at what workable solutions there may be going forward.
