Number 25 Bus – Breakthrough
I’ve had a vast amount of letters, emails and phone calls about Stagecoach’s decision to terminate the number 25 bus service from Caerphilly to the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff.
Wayne David MP and I met with the Managing Director of Stagecoach and presented him with four petitions. We kept in contact with residents following that meeting and I’m happy to say that Stagecoach have now announced they will reinstated the number 25 service.
The proposal is for an hourly service that will replicate the previous number 25 bus route up to the hospital from January 2020.
The bus route will also include a stop at Thornhill crematorium, which is not served by the current number 86 service.
The journey times to the hospital will be dramatically reduced with the changes as the service will avoid the convoluted Lisvane and Thornhill detour.
We are informed that the service is being provided on a six month trial basis and so we would ask that passengers use the service to ensure Stagecoach maintain this route in the future.
Autism support groups “greatly valued”
As awareness of autism grows, so does the requirement to help those voluntary groups who support children and adults with autism.
Many of these voluntary groups, such as Caerphilly-based Valley Daffodils and Cefn Hengoed-based Sparrows ALN, provide a supportive environment and are a fantastic benefit for those children and parents who attend.
I recently visited the Autism Directory charity who were celebrating their ninth birthday. At the celebration event I caught up again with the Sparrows and their chair, Deb Lloyd.
Sparrows run many community activities, from soft play, bouncy castles, bike riding, therapy farm visits and swimming.
I am a ‘Sparrow’ too, as my daughter, who is autistic, regularly attends their ALN (Additional Learning Needs) soft play sessions.
They feature dipped lighting and reduced numbers as compared to regular soft play which makes the play environment appropriate to children’s needs.
Speaking to the parents like myself who attend the sessions, it’s clear the services provided by the Sparrows are greatly valued.
The extra £3m a year funding commitment from Welsh Government to support autism services in Wales is also a welcome step towards addressing concerns about a lack of provision.