Knighton feels 'very neglected' over poor transport links, says Jane Dodds

Tindle News

Mid Wales communities like Knighton need better bus and train services, says Jane Dodds. The Mid and West Wales MS asked at the Senedd how the Welsh Government plans to improve integration of public transport in rural communities in terms of bus and train transfers, particularly in areas like Knighton. Video from Senedd.tv

Transcript

00:00Good afternoon, Cabinet Secretary.

00:02Could I ask for a statement, please, from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport

00:05to explain how the Welsh Government plans to better integrate public transport in rural communities,

00:12looking particularly at bus and train transfers, particularly in areas like Knighton.

00:18So Knighton is right on the border with England and Wales.

00:23In Wales, it feels very neglected.

00:25One of the things it does have is the heart of Wales line running to it,

00:30but there is very little opportunity for people to connect from the train and onto a bus.

00:38For example, the 9pm train arriving at Craven Arms to allow people to go on to Knighton

00:44misses totally the bus link to take people on.

00:49While the Bus Services Wales Bill promises to improve integration between bus and rail,

00:54questions actually still remain about what it will mean in reality.

00:58So, please, could I urge yourself and the Cabinet Secretary to set out how the Government

01:04will make sure that communities like Knighton don't feel left behind?

01:09Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds.

01:12And it is important that you draw attention today to communities like Knighton, beautiful communities.

01:21And I remember walking through and, in fact, staying in Knighton as a result of just walking, of course,

01:30there's such a place for visiting and for residents, of course.

01:37But I think this is where we need to make sure that Transport for Wales take into account

01:43the ways in which active travel trains on the heart of Wales lines link up in terms of the timetables

01:51and working closely with the local authority as well to make sure that there are those connections

01:58and that communities like Knighton are involved in that.

02:03So, Transport for Wales are developing multimodal approaches

02:07to improve public transport connectivity in the heart of Wales line area.

02:13And the bus bill, of course, will help us deliver through bus franchising.

02:18So, I'm sure that this is something which, in terms of the heart of Wales,

02:23and particularly Knighton, that there will be improvements in terms of that multimodal response to services.

02:32Jonathan Saunders.

02:33Jonathan Saunders.

02:35Jonathan Saunders.

02:36Jonathan Saunders.

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