EMERGENCY bus services have been restored to two “cut off” Dwyfor villages.

Last week the Cambrian News reported the concerns of the chair of Porthmadog town council Simon Brooks after residents in Morfa Bychan and Borth-y-Gest were left off the new timetable for bus services for the new year.

As many residents in these villages are infirm or elderly, Cllr Brooks was concerned that they would not be able to get to the shops for food or the doctors for appointments and suggested their abandonment was “diabolical”.

However, following the article, Gwynedd Council has announced a special service for the hundreds of residents who were left bereft of a bus service.

“Gwynedd Council have just advertised a service for the Borth-y-Gest & Morfa Bychan route, to begin Monday (8 January),” explained Cllr Brooks.

“It is an ‘on demand’ service which means that you call at least 24 hours before hand to make sure that the bus runs at specified times.

“As an interim, emergency measure, it means we are now longer completely cut off.

“Thanks to everyone who has drawn attention to our plight over the past week.

“Of course, what we really need is the reinstatement of the service run before Express Motors lost their license. Their application for a new license is on 17 January, and we should put pressure back on after the hearing to bring back the bus service exactly as it was.”

Porthmadog councillor Selwyn Griffiths was aghast that services had been withdrawn at such short notice.

“I was deeply worried that the bus services to the two villages had been stopped due to the problems at Express Motors,” he said.

“The situation of no bus services is unacceptable as it isolates many people within the community.

“The percentage of elderly people living in the ward is very high and many of them depend on the bus to travel to Porthmadog to do their shopping and visits to the doctors.

“I sincerely hope that a company can be found to run this very important service.”