Number 25 bus – Mass objections
My office has been inundated with e-mails, letters and telephone calls from residents who’re very concerned about the decision by Stagecoach to remove the number 25 bus service from Caerphilly to Cardiff.
I’ve personally responded to around 280 residents by letter as well as updating my Facebook page with latest information. At my meeting with Stagecoach on September 6, I will be handing in three residents petitions calling for the reinstatement of this valued bus service.
The removal of the service has the biggest impact on local residents as 72% of service users begin their journey from Caerphilly. Stagecoach’s own survey confirmed that 50% of travellers are concessionary card holders, meaning that those able to access free bus travel will be worst hit.
Gwern y Domen
I was extremely happy to see members of Caerphilly’s planning committee rejecting the planning application for land at Gwern y Domen on August 14. The application was moved for rejection by Labour councillor Liz Aldworth and seconded by Plaid’s John Taylor, so it was pleasing to see proper cross party unity.
The committee will reconvene on September 11 to agree the reasons for refusing the application, but in the meantime I, along with Wayne David MP and the three local St James councillors Elaine Forehead, Christine Forehead & Barbara Jones, have written to the Welsh Government to outline the many reasons why the decision of the planning committee should be upheld if or when any appeal comes in from the applicant.
I’ve been working with the local residents who’ve been opposing this unwanted planning application since before I became the Assembly Member for Caerphilly. It’s my strong belief that we stand a better chance of achieving progress on these issues when politicians of all parties come together in common purpose.