Madam,

The proposed cancellation of the Aberystwyth park and ride service is the latest example of the failure of Ceredigion County Council to show concern for the elderly, infirm and vulnerable in its community, purely in order to save less than £1 per head of population each year.

People in these categories use the park and ride to access areas of the town which are difficult for anyone with limited mobility; this includes visiting opticians, banks, hearing advisors, some shops, as well as Bronglais Hospital with its well-known problem of being on a steep hill that cannot be negotiated by anyone with limited mobility.

There has been no indication as to whether the alternative use of an hourly (instead of three per hour) bus service via Penglais Hill will include the cost of the necessary provision of a pedestrian crossing to ensure the safety of slow-moving patients across a busy trunk road, nor whether the hospital’s own park and ride could be extended to help patients.

Apparently Hywel Dda University Health Board contributes to the present service, so it is surprising that advice on hospital appointments makes no mention of park and ride availability.

Presumably the real intent is to declare the car park redundant so that its sale will provide an additional capital receipt to the council’s property sales portfolio.

Yours etc,

Tony Bamber, Cilcennin.

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