During the public meeting held by Janet Finch-Saunders MS at Penrhynside Village Hall last Friday, 9 February, all in attendance were unanimous that Arriva Buses Wales should reinstate the 14 and 15 services so that the village is no longer cut off from public transport.
Earlier this year Arriva axed the bus route without consulting the community nor elected members. This has resulted in the hill top village being abandoned by bus services, and:
- Residents having to walk up and down steep and dangerous hills to reach public transport;
- Residents navigating muddy and unlit paths to reach bus stops;
- No option but private cars or expensive taxis to get to and from Llandudno;
- A local pub contemplating closing a few night of the week, and questioning the future viability of remaining in business in the village;
- Strong feeling of isolation.
Following the meeting a petition has been launched calling for the services to be reinstated, and Mrs Finch-Saunders has written to Arriva Buses Wales and Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change, highlighting local anger and the need for urgent action.
Commenting after the public meeting, Janet said:
“I would like to thank everyone who attended. The room was unanimous that Arriva should reinstate the bus services they axed without any consultation.
“Action by Arriva has cut off an entire community, caused those who can to walk up and down extremely steep hills to get to the nearest bus stops, traverse muddy and unlit paths to reach the village, and feel vulnerable and isolated.
“The data used by Arriva is flawed. They seem to only count how many people get on, not off the bus in Penrhynside.
“So severe is the impact that a local pub in Penrhynside is now contemplating closing a few nights of the week, or even closing up completely.
“The bus company have completely underestimated the importance of the services to the community, and are now paying the consequences.
“20mph is not a justifiable reason for cutting off the community. In fact, should the 14 and 15 buses return to Bryn-y-Bia Road, their route would be around 15 meters shorter!”
ENDS
Photo:
Public Meeting at Penrhynside Village Hall on 9 February 2024
Mewn cyfarfod cyhoeddus a gynhaliwyd gan Janet Finch-Saunders AS yn Neuadd Bentref Penrhynside ddydd Gwener diwethaf, 9 Chwefror, roedd pawb yn unfrydol y dylai Arriva Bus Wales ailsefydlu gwasanaethau 14 a 15 fel nad yw'r pentref wedi'i ddatgysylltu o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus mwyach.
Yn gynharach eleni fe wnaeth Arriva ddileu'r llwybr bws heb ymgynghori â'r gymuned nac aelodau etholedig. Mae hyn wedi arwain at adael y pentref ar ben y bryn heb yr un gwasanaeth bws; ac mae:
- Disgwyl i'r trigolion gerdded i fyny ac i lawr bryniau serth a pheryglus i gyrraedd trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus;
- Mae trigolion yn gorfod defnyddio llwybrau mwdlyd a thywyll i gyrraedd safleoedd bws;
- Does dim dewis ond defnyddio ceir preifat neu dacsis drud i fynd a dod o Landudno;
- Mae tafarn leol yn ystyried cau ambell noson o'r wythnos, ac yn amau ymarferoldeb parhau fel busnes yn y pentref;
- Mae ymdeimlad cryf o unigedd.
Yn dilyn y cyfarfod, lansiwyd deiseb yn galw am adfer y gwasanaethau, ac mae Mrs Finch-Saunders wedi ysgrifennu at Arriva Bus Wales a Lee Waters AS, y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd, i dynnu sylw at ddicter lleol a'r angen am weithredu ar frys.
Wedi'r cyfarfod cyhoeddus, dywedodd Janet:
“Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb ddaeth draw. Roedd yr ystafell yn unfrydol y dylai Arriva adfer y gwasanaethau bysiau a gafodd eu dileu heb unrhyw ymgynghoriad.
“Mae camau Arriva wedi datgysylltu cymuned gyfan, wedi achosi i'r rhai sy'n gallu cerdded i orfod mynd i fyny ac i lawr elltydd hynod serth i gyrraedd y safleoedd bws agosaf, defnyddio llwybrau mwdlyd heb eu goleuo i gyrraedd y pentref, a theimlo'n fregus ac yn ynysig.
“Mae'r data sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio gan Arriva yn ddiffygiol. Mae'n ymddangos mai dim ond cyfri faint o bobl sy'n mynd ar y bws, nid oddi ar y bws yn Penrhynside maen nhw.
“Mae'r effaith mor ddifrifol nes bod tafarn leol yn Penrhynside bellach yn ystyried cau ambell noson o'r wythnos neu hyd yn oed gau'n gyfan gwbl.
“Mae'r cwmni bysus wedi tanbrisio pwysigrwydd y gwasanaethau i'r gymuned yn llwyr, a nhw sy'n talu'r pris bellach.
“Dydy 20mya ddim yn ddigon o reswm i ddatgysylltu'r gymuned. Mewn gwirionedd, pe bai bysiau 14 a 15 yn dychwelyd i Ffordd Bryn-y-Bia, byddai eu llwybr tua 15 metr yn fyrrach!”
DIWEDD
Llun:
Cyfarfod Cyhoeddus yn Neuadd Bentref Penrhynside ar 9 Chwefror 2024
