Drive blocked in bus protest

Bus operators yesterday blocked the driveway to Powys County Council's headquarters in a protest against new school bus and public transport contracts. The protest was mounted outside County Hall in Llandrindod Wells.

Public transport operators fear they could lose out in the council's mass tendering for routes.

The authority has said it would like to support local companies but must follow strict guidelines. The contracts, to be announced next month, start in September.

Nick Culliford, operations manager of Tanat Valley Coaches, of Llanrhaeadr-Ym-Mochnant, said fears were high that the council intended to bring in a foreign company, Veolia, to run most of the current routes.

"Companies will lose their work and, when the council comes to tender again, there will be only one company to ask," he said.

Councillor Gwilym Evans, board member responsible for transport, said: "Work on the tenders started more than a year ago and has been a thorough and transparent process.

"All operators were given the same opportunity to bid for routes; submissions were carefully assessed for quality and cost with the best options being awarded contracts."

Council spokesman John Evans said a group of bus operators mounted a gesture against the council yesterday. "Four buses came up the drive, parked line-abreast, blocking the road, stopped for a few minutes and then went away again," he said.

"It didn't get as far as the main door."