A DECISION to scrap evening bus services which link rural communities in north Ceredigion to Aberystwyth will turn the area into a “transport desert”, it has been claimed.

This is according to Rhydypennau resident Matthew Hague, who uses the 512 Mid Wales Travel bus service to travel back from Talybont where he meets friends in the pub to socialise for an hour most evenings of the week.

Ceredigion County Council and Mid Wales Travel have confirmed the evening 510 and 512 services are to be axed from 4 June, with both citing a lack of passengers using the service.

Travelling from Aberystwyth to Ynyslas, the 6.25pm and 10.45pm services will be axed, while the 6.53pm and 11.23/28pm buses travelling from Ynyslas to Aberystwyth will also cease to operate.

Mr Hague claims the loss of the service, which is subsidised by the county council to serve communities such as Penrhyncoch, Bow Street, Talybont, Taliesin, Borth and Ynyslas, will impact on the quality of life of residents living in remote communities.

“The council cuts risk turning north Ceredigion into a transport desert,” said Mr Hague, a retired teacher who lives between Rhydypennau and the Dole turning.

“It will be like going back to the medieval times.

A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson added: “For bus services to be viable and sustainable, from an economic as well as environmental perspective, there is a need for sufficient and ongoing passenger numbers.”

See this week’s Aberystwyth edition for the full story, in shops now or online by clicking the Digital Editions tab at the top of the page