A Plaid Cymru Senedd Member has raised the lack of a direct bus route from Caerffili County Borough to The Grange Hospital in Cwmbran.

Peredur Owen Griffiths – who represents the South Wales East region – brought the matter up in the Senedd after his office discovered recently that the route had been axed after a Labour Government-funded six month trial.

During plenary questions, Peredur said: “This is disappointing news not just for the people in the Blackwood area but also in Newbridge, Crumlin, Llanhilleth, Hafodyrynys, Pontypool and Griffithstown, as the bus stopped at these communities en route.

“Apart from being a big blow for the hospital's accessibility, this is also a big blow for our efforts to ease the climate crisis.

“The reality is that for many people I represent in my region, a private car is the only viable option when it comes to getting to and from the Grange Hospital.

“For my constituents without a car, can they hope for better than two or more buses that they have to catch if they want to get to the Grange in the future?

“And can you also give an update on what any evaluation of pilot schemes in Newport or elsewhere in the south-east have had on your public transport plans?” 

In reply, Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters admitted that the government should have perhaps funded the pilot scheme for more than six months.

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