Llandegla bus service partially reinstated after 20mph axe

Villagers said they felt "isolated" when the service was scrapped

A "lifeline" bus service, which was scrapped 12 days ago because of Wales' new 20mph limit, is back on the road.

Residents in Llandegla, Denbighshire, said they felt "isolated" after being told Arriva Wales' X51 bus from Rhyl to Wrexham would no longer stop in their village from 14 January.

Arriva partially reinstated the service after the issue was raised with the first minister and in the Senedd.

There will now be one service each way every day.

This will operate until 31 May initially, with Denbighshire council looking at how a shuttle bus service could also help locals.

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Arriva had previously said the decision to axe the service was necessary because of "reduced speeds across the network".

The changes had meant residents had to walk more than half a mile on unlit roads without pavements to the nearest stop on the A525.

Clwyd West MS Darren Millar and local councillor Terry Mendies raised the issue with the first minister during his visit to rural Denbighshire.

Mr Millar also registered villagers' objections to the changes directly with Arriva and raised the matter in the Senedd.

He said he received an email yesterday from Denbighshire council confirming that the service is being reinstated.

"Residents of Llandegla will be thrilled that a solution has been found and that this service will resume," he said.

"This service is a lifeline to many and I am pleased that this has been recognised.

"Obviously it is a concern that the service will run until 31 May only, when there will be a further review of services."

In a statement, Arriva said: "We can confirm that following discussions with Denbighshire County Council, Arriva will be re-routing one AM and PM journey on X51 to call into Llandegla Village.

"These journeys will be around 8am towards Wrexham and around 5pm leaving Wrexham."

While it said there was no date confirmed for when this will start, the local authority was also looking to provide a shuttle bus to link residents with our services.

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