Funding to return a bus route in North Powys has been confirmed.
Following a funding bid process conducted by Powys County Council, it has been agreed that funding will support the recommencing of bus route 72 which operated in the Llanfyllin and Llansantffraid areas. The service will resume next month (July)
Commenting on the confirmation of the funding, Llanfyllin County Councillor and town Mayor Peter Lewis said:
“This is very welcome news, and means that we will now have a regular bus route again serving Llanfyllin and Llansantffraid, and connecting communities in north Powys again to Oswestry. The service will operate every day from Monday to Saturday. This will mean that people can use the bus service for shopping, to get to work, and will allow people to access health service.”
Member of the Senedd for Montgomeryshire Russell George MS who had raised the concerns of the loss of the route in the Senedd on a number of occasions has also welcomed the news.
"The loss of bus service 72 which operated throughout Llanfyllin and Llansantffraid and the wider area has been a big concern to many local residents. I have continued to raise this matter to try and bring about a resolution as this service was important to so many people.
“While the operator did not want to suspend this route, the service was deemed unsustainable. It was in a difficult position as it could no longer sustain the financial loss which the route was making. I’m grateful to Tanat Valley Coaches for submitting a funding bid, with the public subsidy now confirmed, we can see the return of this important route again”
“County Councillors Peter Lewis, Gwynfor Thomas and the local town and community councils have lobbied for the return of this important service, and I’m delighted the new service will commence again in a few weeks’ time.
