PORTHMADOG councillors have lambasted Gwynedd Council after hopes of a comprehensive bus service returning were dealt a blow this week.

Residents are continuing to “suffer” as a reduced bus service runs throughout the county after Express Motors lost their licence at the start of the year.

Hopes had been raised that a new company was due to take over the running of the service from the now defunct Express Motors (Penygroes).

But the new company Express Motors (Caernarfon) was refused an operator’s licence by the traffic commissioner for Wales on Monday.

Pressure is now on Gwynedd Council to resolve the issue before the region loses its buses for good.

Gwynedd Council is now “intensifying discussions” in order to find a new contractor.

Simon Brooks, chair of Porthmadog Town Council, was upset with the scenario.

“I was very disappointed to hear that Express Motors (Caernarfon) have failed in their bid to get a license,” he said.

“We are in the middle of the coldest winter for years and it seems that the most realistic chance of getting our buses back has been taken away. People want to know what is going to be done, and when. Gwynedd and the Welsh Government need to get a strategy in place to restore proper public transport to rural Gwynedd.

“I am very worried that the temporary removal of our bus services is going to be made permanent unless this is sorted out.

"Porthmadog Town Council will not allow the removal of vital transport links from the town without kicking up an almighty fuss.”

Porthmadog town councillor Jason Humphreys felt the county council was failing in its duty.

“From Plaid Cymru’s Gwynedd Council, all we’ve had are anonymous press statements along the lines that this whole matter has got nothing to do with them,” said Cllr Humphreys.

Cllr Dafydd Meurig, Gwynedd Council Cabinet member for environment said: “Since the Commissioner’s decision, officers from the council’s Transport Service have been doing everything possible to ensure that public bus services continue to be available for Gwynedd’s residents."

Read the full story in this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition of the Cambrian News