SCHOOLCHILDREN will not face the prospect of a hazardous walk over the Crimea Pass, after a bus service was safeguarded until Christmas.

A team of politicians have banded together to protect the X19 bus service from Llanrwst to Blaenau Ffestiniog and back, for an interim period.

“I’m really pleased that discussions and collaboration has ensured a solution for the time being so that this essential bus service continues,” said Plaid Cymru councillor Annwen Daniels who represents Bowydd and Rhiw Ward in Blaenau.

“I made emergency contact with my fellow Plaid Cymru member, Cabinet member for environment and deputy leader of the council, Dafydd Meurig, our MP, Liz Saville Roberts and with the office of Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM to see if we could find a temporary solution.

“Fortunately, the leadership of Plaid Cymru has ensured that positive discussions have taken place within the council in order that the X19 service is maintained until Christmas.

“It was important because many children travel home from a secondary school in Llanrwst to Blaenau and many people use the service to reach health services, banking, shops and so on.

“Services are leaving rural areas at a pace because of the Labour and Tory party policies in Cardiff and Westminster, so it’s important that we fight for every aspect of these important services.”

The importance of the service was highlighted in a recent front-page Cambrian News story by Llais Gwynedd councillor Glyn Daniels who called for the council to fund the service and protect people’s education, wellbeing and livelihoods.

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online now