Friday 23rd January 2014
Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority is hosting an open workshop on 4th February at Talgarth Town Hall which will explore the feasibility of introducing a new Sunday bus service linking Hay, Brecon, Talybont-on-Usk, Bwlch, Crickhowell, Talgarth, Llangors and Abergavenny railway station.
Following on from the successful launch of the Hay Tourism Group’s Hay Ho! bus service between Hay on Wye and Hereford on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority is currently conducting a feasibility study which is looking at plans for a new Sunday community bus service. The study will also consider other route options and timetables linking communities across the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. With funding support from the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s Rural Alliances Interreg IVB North West Europe Programme, the study will identify the likely costs of such an operation and possible sources of funding.
The workshop will be held from 2pm until 4pm on Wednesday 4th February at Talgarth Town Hall. All communities and local businesses are encouraged to attend in order to gauge the level of interest for the proposed new bus service, which will rely heavily on community support and engagement.
Annie Lawrie, Visitor Transport Officer for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority said: “While reductions in Local Authority funding mean that cuts to bus services are more likely at the moment rather than the creation of new ones, there is the recent successful example of the Hay Ho! bus service between Hay on Wye and Hereford, where local communities and businesses have taken over responsibility for supporting Sunday bus services. Rural Alliances are delighted to support this study as it ties in perfectly with our aims to support vibrant and sustainable communities. The timing is tight if we want to get this project up and running by summer so we will try and send people a copy of the feasibility study prior to the workshop, so they can come along fully informed and ready to make decisions.
The workshop will take the following format:
- Presentation regarding Hay Ho! bus
- Presentation of feasibility study
- Discussion regarding route options and costs
- Conclusions/Registering commitment
- Setting up of a Steering Group
- Timescales
For more information people can contact Annie Lawrie, Visitor Transport Officer for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority at annie.lawrie@beacons-npa.gov.uk, telephone 01874 620 480. People can also visit the facebook page to find out the latest news and updates – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hay-Ho-Bus/520031264799155