New bus service for University Hospital Llandough and Cardiff Bay Sports Village

Following talks between the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and New Adventure Travel Ltd, an agreement was reached to improve bus links to and from the hospital.

The 303/304 bus service operated by New Adventure Travel will initially serve temporary locations next to the multi-storey car park and the Children’s Unit, and at the existing bus stop at the eastern end of the hospital, before suitable bus stop facilities are installed at various locations around the hospital’s internal ring road.

Following the planned expansion of the hospital later this year, New Adventure Travel has agreed to run its commercial Monday to Saturday daytime journeys via University Hospital Llandough. This is in addition to the bus service that the council already financially supports which serves the hospital on Monday to Saturday evenings and all day on Sundays and bank holiday Mondays.

The route is also changing to serve the Cardiff Bay Sports Village on all Monday to Saturday journeys and will also introduce an additional morning journey from Llantwit Major to Cardiff, Monday to Saturday.

Vale of Glamorgan Councillor Lis Burnett, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Both the actions of the hospital and service provider that have enabled these service changes are very much welcomed. I am sure that the improved links will make life a lot easier for many to get to and from Llandough Hospital, as well as the popular Cardiff Bay Sports Village and would encourage people to use this excellent facility. I am also aware that the council’s officers have worked hard with both parties in order to help bring about these changes and I would like to thank all concerned in making this vision a reality.”

This new bus link follows extensive work by the health board with the introduction of new parking enforcement to ensure the roads on site are kept free from vehicles that had previously caused significant issues for bus services.

Peter Welsh, board secretary for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, stated: “After many years not being able to do this, we are delighted to see the bus services re-entering fully the hospital grounds. This improvement is part of a series of changes at the hospital designed to improve the range of services and facilities for our patients, visitors and staff.”

Kevyn Jones, director of New Adventure Travel, said: “Having worked on this project for some time with the Vale of Glamorgan Transport team and the Senior Management of the NHS at Llandough we are very pleased to make these additions from April. The growth in the size of the hospital and the popularity of the Sports Village made a very strong case for making these changes. This route operates up to 19 hours a day, 362 days a year servicing Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend giving one of the most comprehensive bus services anywhere in Wales.”

Barclay Davies, deputy director for Wales for Bus Users Cymru, said: “Bus Users Cymru welcomes the change to service 303/304 to serve Llandough Hospital. "Bus Users tell us that they value the fact that the service will take them directly to the hospital entrance as often the walk from the Hospital to the main road is too much for them. For those undergoing treatment it provides easy access to the respective clinics and for non-users it is a great alternative to using the car and takes away the added stress of trying to find a parking space.”