In January this year, Arriva Cymru withdrew the Tweedmill shopping outlet bus stop, and the village of Llandegla, from the 51 and x51 bus service due to punctuality issues following the 20mph rollout.
Member of the Senedd for Vale of Clwyd, Gareth Davies MS, and the former Member of Parliament Dr James Davies, have been campaigning for months for the bus stop to be reintroduced due to safety concerns regarding elderly passengers alighting onto a busy road. Gareth has raised the issue several times in the Senedd, in addition to meeting with Arriva Cymru and Tweedmill to find a compromise that wouldn’t jeopardise the safety of the Tweedmill’s customers.
Arriva Cymru have now carried out a review of the service 51 timetable following the issues and comments raised since making the decision to pull out of the onsite Tweedmill stop. They have made the decision to serve it at the busier times of the day only and the new timetable will come into effect from 1st September 2024.
Responding to Arriva Cymru’s announcement, Member of the Senedd for Vale of Clwyd, Gareth Davies MS, said:
“I am delighted at Arriva Cymru’s announcement that Tweedmill’s onsite bus stop will be reintroduced to the 51 bus route during peak times.
“Elderly shoppers should not have to be ferried to the side of a busy road, putting their safety at risk, so I am thrilled that this will come to an end.
“I’d like to thank Dr James Davies and Cllr James Elson for assisting me work with all parties involved to find a workaround for the disruption caused by 20mph and ensuring the safety of passengers and Tweedmill’s customers."
Cllr James Elson (Trefnant ward) added:
“I am delighted that Arriva have reconsidered their decision to skip the stop at The Tweedmill shopping outlet on the grounds of time lost to the 20mph zones.
“The alternative bus stop across the busy A525 was a serious danger to customers and staff who should be encouraged not deterred in using the bus to go shopping.
“Thank you, Gareth Davies MS and Cllr Pauline Edwards, Denbigh Caledfryn Henllan Ward, in helping me make this happen.
“I think it is a victory to common sense and cooperation. Thank you, Arriva .”
