Saved bus route a 'lifeline'

A "lifeline" bus service operating in rural communities near Oswestry has been saved.

Oswestry Community Action's (OCA's) bus service serving the villages of Llanwddyn and Llanfyllin was under threat because of low passenger numbers.

But thanks to a new agreement between the organisation and Powys County Council, the service has been safeguarded and will now be extended so that it terminates in Oswestry, providing a vital transport link for other rurally isolated areas along the route.

Andrew Brown, OCA transport manager, said: "This service has always been a lifeline to many residents in and around Llanwddyn. It will allow them to travel all the way into Oswestry on market day, without having to change buses.

"It will also provide a link for rural areas such as Bwlchyddar, which currently have no public transport provision".

The service will initially be run as a pilot scheme beginning on March 11. It will run every Wednesday, starting at Lake Vyrnwy Dam and will serve the villages of Llanwddyn, Llanfihangel, Llanfyllin, Bwlchyddar, Llangedwyn, Pen-y-bont Llanerch Emrys, Nantmawr, Treflach and Trefonen, terminating in Oswestry.