'Surreal!' Council slammed for spending £2.7m on new bus station but has no buses to fill it
Council slammed for spending £2.7m on new bus station but has no buses to fill it
PA
A local council has been slammed after spending an eye-watering £2.7million on a new bus station only to be told that no bus companies would service it.
The Vale of Glamorgan Council in South Wales received funding for the project, named the Barry Dock Transport Interchange, from the Cardiff Capital Region and the Welsh Government.
Despite splurging close to £3million on the project Plaid Cymru's group leader on the council, Dr Ian Johnson explained the site now can’t be used for anything else.
He said the situation was “surreal” as although he recognised the “need” for the hub, he admitted the council had been left in a “fairly silly situation of spending almost £3million on a bus station with no buses”.
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According to the group leader on the council, local bus operator Adventure Travel was initially due to service the station but later cancelled those plans.
Cardiff Bus Services said it will also not stop at the hub after it published its autumn timetable.
“Unfortunately…the Vale of Glamorgan has found that none of the local bus companies are willing to offer a service which calls at the new bus station, the public transport interchange,” Dr Johnson told Sky News.
“The site can't be used for anything else, we've spent £3million on making it a bus station.
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Barry Dock Transport Interchange map
Vale of Glamorgan council
“What we need are buses that are going to use that site.
“Hopefully, the council can find a way out of this situation because it's rather embarrassing for everybody at the moment.”
Welsh Conservatives' Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar said she was not surprised “at the ridiculousness of this situation”.
“Money is being thrown at projects with little oversight and a definitive lack of long-term planning,” Asghar said.
Welsh Conservatives' Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar said she was not surprised 'at the ridiculousness of this situation'
Google maps
The Barry Dock will not just act as a bus hub but will also provide a taxi rank, bike shelters alongside the train station, and electric charge points for cars which a spokesperson from Vale of Glamorgan Council said would be connected soon.
They added that the project was completed at “a very difficult time for the bus industry” and expects the hub to “come into regular use” as new developments are completed.
A spokesperson for Vale of Glamorgan Council said: “Reductions in Government funding, reduced post-pandemic passenger numbers, and a shortage of drivers have all contributed to reductions in bus services.
“In the short term, the new interchange will be used for Transport for Wales rail replacement services while upgrades to the local train network are undertaken.
“The council is also in discussions with local bus providers to see if the new interchange can be incorporated into any existing routes.”