Stagecoach reacts to Welsh cuts
Faced with reducing support for buses from the Welsh Government, some of which it plans to challenge in the courts, Stagecoach has announced plans to cut services and has begun consultations with the Unions over the closure of Brynmawr depot in July
Citing the 25% cut in funding last year and the newly announced £24m reduction in Concessionary Fares, Stagecoach says that it has also been left with no choice but to make a number of service reductions across its network in Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf from 20 July 2014
John Gould, Managing Director of Stagecoach in South Wales, said: “We have warned the Welsh Government for months that these misguided cuts would impact severely on people who rely on the bus and on bus workers. They have not listened and now sadly local people will feel the effects of their decisions. Ministers’ actions are now directly responsible for potential job losses and placing entire areas at risk of being cut off from bus services. We will keep fighting for the rights of bus passengers in Wales but sadly it is impossible to continue delivering the same level of services for passengers when we are seeing cut after cut in investment in local bus services. The result is that some of our routes are not sustainable and we have to act in order to ensure we can continue to deliver services for customers across the rest of our network over the long-term.’
‘We remain fully committed to providing high-quality bus services in South Wales. The measures we have announced are an absolute last resort and it is with deep regret that we have had to take these decisions. We will now consult with staff and trade unions, looking at every option available to minimise the number of employees affected by this.’