Plaid Cymru Caerphilly Together, We Can Build a Brighter Future

The leader of the Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly Council, Lindsay Whittle,  has branded a proposed 9.6% hike in bus fares as unacceptable.

Stagecoach will drive through the increase from Sunday, January 29^th.

Councillor Lindsay Whittle said: “I can understand like all businesses costs have risen but I would question the size of the increase and its timing.  Many people are already struggling to keep their heads above water with rising food and energy prices and this is just another hammer blow.

“A roughly 10% increase also comes at a time when passengers complain to me about the reliability of services. To end up paying more for a sub-standard service where buses fail to turn up is unacceptable.

Councillor Lindsay Whittle said that while he accepted fares had not been increased since 2019 in two of those years travel by all public transport was down as a result of the pandemic.  “The company like others has also received government financial support during difficult times. This increase is really highway robbery – even Dick Turpin wore a mask!”

He urged management to rethink the rise – even at this late stage.