Madam,

In response to Mel Evans’ letter in the Cambrian News (4 February), regarding bus services in north Ceredigion.

My child is one of those affected by the changes made to the school bus services. I have been in touch with Ceredigion County Council several times since October, as I believe that the new ‘bus stop’ location for Llangynfelyn children is more dangerous than the previous one. This matter has not been addressed to my satisfaction and my communications are now being ignored. Whilst my daughter had to walk further to reach the previous bus stop, there was somewhere for her to stand off the B road, out of the way of traffic and with good visibility for road users in both directions. In addition I could drive her there in inclement weather, as there was somewhere for me to park. Now she needs to stand in the road to be seen by the bus driver; traffic going towards Borth has poor visibility as there is a bend and a rise in the road just preceding the stop, and it is a busy road with vehicles travelling up to 60mph. Furthermore as the journey now takes 15 to 20 minutes extra each way she has been doing this in the dark all through December and January.

I have witnessed a school bus doing a three-point turn in the middle of the A487 in Eglwysfach on a Wednesday evening at about 4.15pm. I have no idea if it is in the habit of performing this manoeuvre on a daily basis, but I shouldn’t think the person whose drive is being used for the purpose is particularly happy about it.

For those who live in Tre’r ddôl, Talybont and Taliesin there is no reliable way to get to the doctors’ surgery in Borth, despite Mr Evans’ assertions. Two buses passing each other on the road does not constitute a connection. The buses he details in his letter do not connect reliably as there is only two minutes’ leeway for delays and the 512 does not wait at Rhydypennau for the X28 to connect. Mr Evans seems to forget also that there is the return journey to consider. When the 512 route was altered in 2011 to a circular service there was inadequate advertising to truly assess if the service could be successful long-term and the buses were running more frequently than was necessary.

Yours etc

Helen Hicks

Llangynfelyn.