Following the announcement that Transport Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates will hold a Bus Summit in north Wales, Llyr Gruffydd AM said:

“The bus summit organised for 23 January in Glyndwr University is a good opportunity to have an honest debate about our public transport system. The collapse of GHA Coaches over the summer, along with a number of other bus companies failing about the same time, was a wake-up call for the Welsh Government to realise that things couldn’t carry on as they were.

“What became evident in the light of GHA Coaches going to the wall was how dependent some communities were on their bus services – in some cases these have not been replaced. Rural communities such as the Ceiriog Valley and the Maelor were left high and dry and the replacement services have not, in all cases, been sufficient.

“It’s also clear that some councils were able to deal more promptly with the crisis and it would be good to learn the lessons of what worked and what didn’t.

“Public transport is vital for many people to get to work, to college and to visit friends and family and that’s why I’m calling today on the Welsh Government to ensure funding is enhanced for these important community services.”