|
Question 1 –
how would you
describe the current condition of the bus and community transport
sectors in Wales?
|
|
Within the main town areas the services are excellent and the
people of the cities get a full service where as the people within
the rural areas are at a disadvantage with the spread
of housing being so thinly spread. The rural areas also as a
rule have older people with needs. It is with this in mind you find
that transport is not properly thought out.
|
|
Question 2 –
why do you think
the number of bus services and the number of bus passengers is
declining in Wales?
|
|
The reason for the decline in passenger numbers is the lack of
thought as to when the services are most required. This results in
bus services being withdrawn due to lack of use. More thought out
better consultation with the customer base gives a better service
as we at dial a ride with limited resources have proven
.
|
|
Question 3 –
what do you think is the social, economic and environmental impact
of recent changes in bus and community transport service
levels?
|
|
This has resulted in transport and social deprivation for many who
having no personal transport through illness, age or personal
reasons. This also has resulted in less people accessing local
towns and shops.
|
|
Question 4 –
what do you think
the Welsh Government should do to support bus and community
transport in Wales?
|
|
We feel that a financial input into local community transport
would be of great benefit to a large number of Welsh
communities as having affordable transport that can access smaller
areas gives much better transport links and these links are
able to connect up with main services such as trains and main bus
transport. This would have the effect of main bus routes running
better connecting services. Also larger vehicle’s would not
be on small country roads traveling more or less empty.
|
|
Question 5
– what do you think Welsh local authorities should do to
support bus and community transport services?
|
|
CONSULT< CONSULT, CONSULT. With the traveling public as to how
they feel their need for transport is. Yes everyone has personal
needs but with a full and dedicated consultation a pattern evolves
that gives a wide over view of people’s needs. This would
result in buses running as and when needed. School transport could
also be incorporated Into being public transport and parents could
travel at the same time as their children giving greater
flexibility to their working and social lives.
|
|
Question 6
– what do you think about proposals to devolve bus
registration powers to Wales? How should these be used?
|
|
These powers should be looked at carefully as to will we be better
of financially as a country or would income remain the same from
central sources. Most important that the persons doing the
administration of this should be of a calibre to make certain the
general public get full value for money. That they are able to take
on board the wide and varied transport needs of a country as
diverse as Wales.
|
|
Question 7
– please tell us whether you think further powers to regulate
the bus industry in Wales are required and why?
|
|
NO THERE ARE TO OUR MIND MORE THAN ENOUGH ALREADY. Just use them
better.
|
|
Question 8
– what other
action can be taken to ensure that bus and community transport
services meet the needs of people in Wales?
|
|
The old
Answer
consultation. Consultation, Consultation without this nothing
will improve. Community Transport has to get along on a very very
tight budget and to do this we need to be constantly improving our
services. To do this we consult not just with our clients but get
together through our association ( Powys Association of Voluntary
Organisations ) in Llandrindod Wells where we are able to cross
reference ideas and get help in putting them in to operation.
Perhaps if this idea was used by the Welsh Government and yes if
they talked to the people who use the services we may just start to
get a coherent public and community transport service together.
Without using Community Transport to its fullest capacity it will
struggle and it must given the funding it deserves.
|
|
Please tell us anything
else you would like to mention this topic, thank you for
contributing to our inquiry.
|
|
WE HOPE THE ANSWERS WE HAVE PROVIDED WILL HELP WITH THIS INQUIRY
AND MAY BE GIVE YOU SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT. WE MUST HAVE A FULLY
INTERGRATED TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND THIS MUST INCLUDE A FULLY
FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED COMMUNITY TRANPORT AS WELL AS OTHER TRANPORT
SERVICES.
|
