§ Mr. Probertasked the Minister of Transport what proposals he is making for the relief of hardship caused to 52W passengers by the withdrawal of the Abercynon-Aberdare and the Neath-Aberdare-Pontypool passenger services.
§ Mr. MarplesExisting alternative services will provide adequately for the bulk of the present rail users, and my consent to these closures is subject to notification of any proposal to withdraw or substantially reduce any of them. It is also conditional on the provision of the following additional services to meet particular needs:
1. A through bus service once a day each way between Cwmbach and Hirwaun Trading Estate to accommodate workers at present using the morning and evening trains.
2. A through bus service between Aberdare and Ystrad Mynach in each direction at times corresponding to the existing early morning trains and in each direction in the evening to accommodate travellers now using the corresponding return trains.
§ Mr. Probertasked the Minister of Transport (1) in view of the inadequate roads in the Cynon Valley and the consequent hazards to the residents, if he will delay the withdrawal of the passenger services from the Abercynon-Aberdare and the Neath-AberdarePontypool lines until improvements are made to these roads;
(2) in consequence of his decision to withdraw passenger services from the Abercynon-Aberdare and the Neath-Aberdare-Pontypool lines, what steps he is taking to improve the roads in the Cynon Valley.
§ Mr. MarplesI am satisfied that these two closures will have a negligible effect on the traffic on the two main roads serving the Cynon Valley. The Glamorgan County Council is the highway authority for both roads. Improvements under the road programme are already in progress at Cynon Star and any further proposals from the council will be considered on their merits.