BLAENAU Ffestiniog residents have hit out at a decision to strip a popular bus service contract from a much-loved local company.

The 37 Clipa service between Blaenau town centre and Tanygrisiau, run by John’s Coaches for the past 18 years, is to be taken over by Penygroes bus firm Express Motors from 1 April after the contract went out to tender.

But residents have hit out at the decision not to award the contract to John’s Coaches, with an online petition gaining more than 300 signatures in two weeks and customers sharing tales of the driver, Mr Edwards’ son Gareth, “going above and beyond” for the often-vulnerable passengers.

John Edwards, owner of John’s Coaches, said his firm lost out on the tender because he was forced to increase his tender by 30 per cent because of increased running costs, including the purchasing of three buses for £30,000.

Mr Edwards told the Cambrian News: “We have been doing this service for 18 years. It was more of a community bus really.

“We have lost it and the people of Tanygrisiau aren’t very happy. They don’t want to lose the bus or the driver, my son Gareth, because he has looked after them over the years.

A Gwynedd County Council spokesperson said: “In order to ensure an open competitive process which ensures the best possible value for public money in what is a hugely challenging period for local government, public transport contracts are re-tendered on a regular basis."

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