Bendy bus 'threatening future of businesses'
SWANSEA'S new bendy bus is threatening the survival of one of the city's busiest shopping areas, it has been claimed.
All five Labour councillors in Morriston have written to council chiefs saying the business community is in dire straits due to an "unprecedented amount of disruption".
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Bendy buses have divided opinion
They are demanding a tax rebate for businesses and householders affected by the ftr metro service, which was launched on June 1 by First Cymru.
In a letter to council leader Chris Holley and chief executive Paul Smith, they said: "While it is not unreasonable to expect some disruption from a scheme like this, the scale and ongoing nature of the disruption is completely unacceptable. We have been approached by many businesses in Morriston who have told us that they are close to collapse, with some reporting a massive 30 per cent fall in shoppers since the works started."
But Councillor Ioan Richard was not convinced. He said: "I have done my own research and followed it (the bendy bus) twice in my car from Morriston Hospital down through Morriston centre to the Wych Tree roundabout at peak rush hour, and I can say it went very smoothly through Morriston, without a hitch or hold-up."
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by taffy, Morriston
Friday, July 24 2009, 2:33PM
“Trade has been dying in Morriston for a very long time, and that is because of Asda and Tesco, and the modern way of living of wanting everything central, like the shops in Swansea city centre. I dont think there is much that can be done to revive Morriston to a bustling town.
I also think that having the bendy bus in morriston is a waste of time and money, there is no room for big vehicles and people living around Chemical road know the disruption caused by the odd articulated lorry travelling up and down the road never mind the frequent bendy bus.
to be blunt, theres no point having bendy bus in and around Morriston and business will continue to die with or without the bendy bus.”
by Richard, Morriston
Friday, July 24 2009, 2:25PM
“Boris Johnson says today "writhing whales of the road have swung their hefty rear ends round our corners for the final time" from the Mayor of a Major International City with a population of approx. 8 million. Whilst back in Swansea, population approx. 0.25 million our council spends our money decimating small business, creating traffic havoc and forcing residents to park somewhere other than outside their own homes to introduce these EMPTY monstrosities.”
by Anthony, Bridgend
Thursday, July 09 2009, 6:01PM
“Th reason why shops in Morriston are closing is not because of teh road works but because people are spending less and businesses are not able to get much credit from the banks at the presnt time.
I do think it is very unfair to blame the FTR for this and it is not a bendy bus because it has a tram like front and some internal systems are different from those on bendybuses.
I have sure that we would have had more problems if the council had installed a heavy tram system in which there should be one between Mumbles & the city centre but not to Morriston as it would have caused even more road work and would have meant that parts of Morriston would have been cut off to vehicles for weeks.
Again please wil some of you stupid people think before blaming everything on the FTR”
by Stephen G, Swansea
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 7:08PM
“Dave
I suspect that the reason the area is dying, with no decent shops selling local meat & veg, is contained in the later comment you make: "you have asda and Tescos nearby ". They are why the Street is dying but no doubt the local councillors would support them for supposedly bringing jobs into the area.”
by Paul, West Cross
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 8:51AM
“Wow! I seem to have generated quite a few postings. When I say "I", I mean I. My comments are my own. I do not confer with anyone, or any political party, about what I post to the EP website.
However, I do not like it when a Swansea Councillor states that the ftr project was a Labour administration idea. All the announcements concerning the application for WAG funding came after the current LibDem led administration had had talks with First Cymru.
There is nothing in the agendas and minutes of the Council, prior to the LibDem led administration, about the ¿bendy bus¿ or anything resembling it.
Ioan Richard (Councillor), Swansea commented on 03-Jul-2009 12:26 ¿The concept of the Metro Bus was started under the old Labour Regime when the Morriston Labour Councillors were prominent in ruling the Council. The new Coalition has only had to finish off what they started.¿ THIS IS FALSE.”