Senedd report recognises the vital role of Community Transport

The new Bus Services (Wales) Bill (Bill linked here) that is currently being scrutinised represents the most significant change to bus legislation in Wales for more than a generation, so it’s been vital for us at CTA to work closely with officials to represent you, our members, and the communities you support, as the legislation was drafted and began the scrutiny process. While legislative reports may not always make for the most exciting reading, this one from the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee is important to share - and it gives us an opportunity to celebrate the progress we’ve achieved together.

Many of you will know that influencing policy and legislation is a long, painstaking and incremental process – it’s a hugely important part of what we do at CTA, but its progress is often not very visible! In Wales, we have been involved with work on versions of a new ‘Bus Bill’ since before I joined the team back in 2019, affected by the Covid pandemic and the refocus created by the publication of Llwybr Newydd, the Wales Transport Strategy in 2021.  Because we know most members can’t be involved at every stage, we make sure your views, feedback, and your passengers’ experiences are brought into the process.

In stark contrast with the draft Regional Transport Plans published earlier this year, the Climate Change Committee’s report focuses heavily on community and Community Transport (CT), making specific recommendations around engagement and statutory guidance to support the sector which recognises the vital role you play in connecting people. We can also see specific recommendations around access and inclusion across the whole network, which is essential if we want to make both public and community transport an inclusive option for the many people who are currently underserved by the mainstream transport network.  

We were delighted that the Committee valued the input of the sector so highly that not only were we requested to submit written evidence, but for the first time we were able to secure the opportunity for a CT-specific evidence session with the Committee members. It was clear that the Senedd Members on the committee recognise the challenges that our current bus network presents for their constituents, and are proactively looking to constructively challenge the Welsh Government on making an already very positively drafted new law even better for us, the Welsh public. We welcome the Committee’s clear and concrete recommendations, and we look forward to working with officials and the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales on how these should be implemented going forward.

I wanted to take a moment to thank each of you for your involvement in this work to date – without your stories, quotes, case studies, data, and insights, we would not be in a position to influence public bodies in this way. Thank you for your generosity and willingness to engage with the team even when your time and capacity is so stretched – it is very much appreciated across team Wales.

To help us continue influencing on your behalf, please keep in contact with us in team Wales  and share any stories, updates, or concerns you would like highlighted with the Welsh Government.

I also want to specifically thank those groups that were able to directly input into this process. Bev Mather at Denbighshire Dial-a-Ride, Richie Davies MBE at VEST, and Caroline Wilson at Green Dragon all took significant time out of the day job to join me at the Senedd and represented the sector so eloquently and passionately, speaking to their experience and expertise in a way that clearly resonated with the Committee and is directly referenced in the report. My thanks also to our members and partners who I know talked about the importance of community-led transport in their evidence, including the Older People’s Commissioner, Bus Users UK, Coach and Bus Association Cymru, and CTA members Dolen Teifi, Denbighshire DAR and Green Dragon. I’m also grateful to Newton DAR, Royal Voluntary Service, Awel Aman Tawe, Canolfan Maerdy, TrydaNi, Yr Orsaf, Seiriol Alliance, PACTO, Dansa, Green Dragon, and Greenlinks (Vale of Glamorgan Council), who joined our workshops earlier in the year to discuss the Bill and the draft Regional Transport Plans, as your input directly shaped our evidence and will continue to influence this work as we move forward.

As our CEO Dr Victoria Armstrong highlighted when she launched our new 5 year strategy last month, ‘Across the UK, communities face growing challenges around accessibility, connectivity, and sustainability, while continuing to show incredible innovation and resilience.’ It is vital that Community Transport is supported to step into our potential as a key part of an integrated, sustainable, and inclusive transport network that allows all of us to access transport that meets our needs. We look forward to working with colleagues in the Senedd and the Welsh Government as we take the next steps into a new legislative system for bus and CT in Wales.

Diolch yn fawr eto  to all our members for your support and for everything you do to keep communities connected across Wales.

Best wishes,

Gemma Lelliott

Wales Director/Head of Advice & Support, CTA