ADDITIONAL bus services have been announced to improve public transport for residents.

At the start of the month the Cambrian News reported how a critical bus service linking Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno had been scrapped leaving shoppers, pupils and those needing to visit hospital in the lurch.

Llew Jones Coaches, which had been operating the service at a loss for a year, had little choice but to stop the service as it was no longer commercially viable.

The company had sought funding from Gwynedd Council, Conwy Council and Welsh Government but to no avail.

The decision to shut down the service caused great distress in the area, especially as pupils attending school in Llanrwst no longer had a bus service to bring them home and either faced getting home hours after school has finished or tackling a daunting walk over the exposed, perilous Crimea Pass.

Fortunately, following a call to action from Blaenau Ffestiniog councillors, MP Liz Saville Roberts and Gwynedd Council officials, a bus service for the school pupils has been safeguarded until Christmas.

In further good news, Llew Jones has announced an additional service on the X19 bus, which allows Blaenau Ffestiniog residents to depart at 10.30am and return home at approximately 4.30pm to visit the hospital or enjoy some Christmas shopping.

The current service – departing at 7.30am and returning at 5.40pm – will also continue.

In a statement from Ben Pulford, head of sales and marketing for Llew Jones Coaches, he announced: “In response to Gwynedd Council agreeing to part fund a run from Dolwyddelan to Blaenau Ffestiniog to be able to accommodate the safe return of school children from Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy, Llew Jones have made the decision to match this with an additional service in and out of Blaenau Ffestiniog for the general public in the mornings.

“Both parts of this will run until Christmas.

“This will start as of Monday, 19 November. We hope this helps.”

For the full bus timetable, please visit http://llewjonesinternational.co.uk/number-x19-bus-service/