Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has been campaigning for bus stops to be reinstated in two laybys beside the A470 in Maenan, Llanrwst.
The laybys, near Erw Glas Campsite, are on the 19X Llew Jones bus route, but residents, and visitors staying in the area, cannot use the service because there is no accessible bus stop.
Having corresponded with Llew Jones, Welsh Government, and Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) about the matter, it is clear that the final decision is that of the Local Authority.
Responding to the letter sent by Mrs Finch-Saunders on 11 October 2023, Mr Geraint Edwards, Head of Environment, Roads, and Facilities, CCBC stated on 10 January 2024:
“I have been asked to confirm our position relating to creating bus stops in Maenan and can advise, that whilst we remain “supportive of the request in principle” we have been “unable to identify a site in this location that would be suitable for a bus stop” (as stated in my previous communication) and do not currently have resources to upgrade any other sites, such as the two laybys near Erw Glas”.
Commenting on the refusal by CCBC to create two new bus stops, Janet said:
“When considering that the laybys used to be bus stops, I believe that it would be apparent to any reasonable person that the Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru, Green, and Conwy First Local Authority refusal is unacceptable.
“This is especially true when considering that the laybys would provide safer bus stops than many across the County, such as those on the A470 by Dolgarrog Railway Station and Maenan Abbey.
“In a time when we are working hard to achieve Net Zero 2050, and need to see more people using public transport, it really would be in the best interest of the Local Authority, residents, and the environment, for the two bus stops to be created.
“The residents of Maenan are represented by three Plaid Cymru/Green County Councillors, who support the coalition running the authority. I wonder if they really stand by this nonsensical anti-environment, anti-business, and anti-bus refusal by their Local Authority!”
ENDS
Document:
Letter from Conwy County Borough Council
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi bod yn ymgyrchu dros adfer safleoedd bws mewn dwy gilfan wrth ochr yr A470 ym Maenan, Llanrwst.
Mae'r cilfannau, ger Maes Gwersylla Erw Glas, ar lwybr bws 19X Llew Jones, ond ni all trigolion, nac ymwelwyr sy'n aros yn yr ardal, ddefnyddio'r gwasanaeth gan nad oes safle bws hygyrch.
Ar ôl gohebu â Llew Jones, Llywodraeth Cymru, a Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy (CBSC) ynghylch y mater, mae'n amlwg mai yn nwylo’r Awdurdod Lleol y mae’r penderfyniad terfynol.
Wrth ymateb i'r llythyr a anfonwyd gan Mrs Finch-Saunders ar 11 Hydref 2023, dywedodd Mr Geraint Edwards, Pennaeth yr Amgylchedd, Ffyrdd a Chyfleusterau, CBSC ar 10 Ionawr 2024:
"Gofynnwyd i mi gadarnhau ein safbwynt ar greu safleoedd bws ym Maenan a gallaf gynghori, er ein bod yn parhau i fod “yn gefnogol i'r cais mewn egwyddor”, “nad ydyn ni wedi gallu dod o hyd i safle yn y lleoliad hwn a fyddai'n addas ar gyfer safle bws” (fel y nodwyd yn fy nghyfathrebiad blaenorol) ac nad oes ganddyn nhw’r adnoddau ar hyn o bryd i uwchraddio unrhyw safleoedd eraill, fel y ddwy gilfan ger Erw Glas".
Wrth sôn am wrthodiad CBSC i greu dau safle bws newydd, dywedodd Janet:
"O ystyried bod y cilfannau yn arfer bod yn safleoedd bws, rwy'n credu y byddai'n amlwg i unrhyw berson rhesymol fod penderfyniad Llafur Cymru, Plaid Cymru, y Blaid Werdd, ac Awdurdod Lleol Conwy yn Gyntaf i wrthod y cynnig yn annerbyniol.
"Mae hyn yn arbennig o wir o ystyried y byddai'r cilfannau yn darparu safleoedd bws mwy diogel na llawer ar draws y Sir, fel y rhai ar yr A470 ger Gorsaf Reilffordd Dolgarrog ac Abaty Maenan.
"Mewn cyfnod pan rydyn ni’n gweithio'n galed i gyflawni Sero Net 2050, ac angen gweld mwy o bobl yn defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, byddai wir er lles pennaf yr Awdurdod Lleol, trigolion a'r amgylchedd, i greu’r ddau safle bws.
"Mae trigolion Maenan yn cael eu cynrychioli gan dri Chynghorydd Sir Plaid Cymru/y Blaid Werdd, sy'n cefnogi'r glymblaid sy'n rhedeg yr awdurdod. Does bosib eu bod nhw wir yn cytuno â’r penderfyniad gwrth-fusnes, gwrth-fysiau hurt hwn gan eu Hawdurdod Lleol!"
DIWEDD
Dogfen:
Llythyr gan Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy
Ffoto:
Janet Finch-Saunders AS
