Make a fuss about your bus

Next week (Friday 2nd October) local people will get the chance to have their say about bus services at a special Bus User 'Surgery' taking place in Newbridge.

The event, organised by Bus Users UK and Caerphilly County Borough Council, will be held on a bus at the new park and ride car park (next to the train station) between 10.00am and 2.00pm.

The surgery is an opportunity for bus users and other members of the public to talk face to face with senior staff from Stagecoach, the major local bus operator in the area. Staff responsible for transport issues at Caerphilly County Borough Council will also be on hand. Bus Users UK staff will take details of concerns about the services of other operators in the area. The surgery is one of a rolling programme of surgeries that have been held over the past 6 years across Wales. Previous successful surgeries have been held in Newport, Caerphilly, Blackwood, Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthen, Llandudno, Haverfordwest, Rhyl, and Aberystwyth.

Bus Users UK Officer for Wales, Barclay Davies said, "The Bus User 'Surgery' is a really good opportunity for bus users to talk directly with the bus operators in their area and it will hopefully be the start of long term grass roots consultation with the aim of improving bus services.

"At the surgery, details of all points raised are taken and replies sent by the operators or local authorities to those people attending. It is often difficult for bus users to understand the actions of commercial bus operators and difficult for bus operators to fully understand the needs of users. People often don't know who is responsible for providing bus services in their area or who they should contact when things go wrong. I hope that as many people as possible will come along and talk to us".