A Gwynedd councillor tired of waiting for Welsh Government to plug the bus service gap in his community will walk the 30 mile T19 route exactly one year since the service came to an end.

On 11 February 2023 the T19 bus journey travelling from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno Junction came to an end, leaving Gwynedd and Conwy communities without an essential bus service to reach school and colleges, places of work, food shopping and hospital appointments.

“I am extremely annoyed about the situation,” said Cllr Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn, who represents the residents of Bowydd and Rhiw Ward in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

“Welsh Labour Government and Transport for Wales have left my community without essential provision. This situation would not occur in large towns and cities within Wales. So why are rural areas being put at a disadvantage yet again?”

The service was abolished a year ago because it was not financially viable for the private bus company to continue the service. Welsh Government states that a train service runs along the same route.

“In reality, the train service does not run often enough and there are constant problems with the line due to the effects of the weather. Local people cannot get to their appointments at Ysbyty Llandudno, for example, because of these issues. Pupils cannot get to school without having to travel very early in the morning and wait outside the school building for the doors to open. The situation is not at all acceptable.”

The councillor will now walk 30 miles from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llandudno Junction on the morning of Sunday, 11 February, with local residents, friends and fellow councillors joining him for sections of the journey. The aim is to mark a full year since the abolition of the service leaving local people deprived of public transport.

He will be joined on parts of the journey by fellow Plaid Cymru councillors Liz Roberts who represents the residents of Dolwyddelan and Betws y Coed, and both county councillors for Llanrwst, Nia Clwyd Owen and Aaron Wynne. The T19 bus service travelled through Dolwyddelan and Llanrwst before reaching its destination at Llandudno Junction.

The councillors have contacted Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, Mabon ap Gwynfor raised the issue in the Senedd last spring and a public meeting was held at the Queens pub in Blaenau Ffestiniog nine months ago.

Cllr Wyn ap Elwyn continued: “Despite sending correspondence asking for updates on a number of occasions during the past few months, Lee Waters has been slow to respond to my request for urgent information about the latest situation. A letter received in recent days does not address the pressing issue of the T19 Blaenau to Llandudno route issues and concerns.

“I hope that by walking the 30 miles the government and politicians holding the purse strings in Cardiff will wake up and be reminded that we continue to fight for local people in this rural location.”