A DINAS Powys councillor says that local bus companies in the area aren’t doing enough to promote their services.

Vale and Dinas Powys Cllr Rob Crowley said that although last week was the UK’s national Catch The Bus Week, there was nothing on offer to residents in the village.

Cllr Crowley has complained that there were events organised by Cardiff Bus and NAT Travel – which runs through Dinas Powys – during the week for Barry and Cardiff, but there was no thought to hold events in other areas of the Vale such as Penarth and Dinas Powys.

He said: “The local bus companies appear to have a totally apathetic approach to promoting the use of buses in the area.

“They’re more interested in ticking boxes as participants in National promotion schemes than actually reaching the people.

“For example, Arriva Buses, that have no services in South Wales, were allowing anyone to go anywhere on their routes for £1 a ticket.

“What did we get? A couple of buses parked on Kings Square, Barry on the Tuesday, and in Cardiff the following day, with people handing out time-tables if you asked.”

The councillor also said he approached Cardiff Bus to ask about there being any events held in Penarth, Sully and Dinas Powys,but said they couldn’t answer why they only promoted their services in the centre of Barry and Cardiff.

He added: “I also stopped by at the event at the request of several residents and asked the representatives if there were any planned changes to routes through Dinas Powys. I was told they didn’t know. “

In reply to Cllr Crowley’s concerns, a spokeswoman for Cardiff Bus said: “Catch The Bus Week is an annual week-long event to promote the importance of buses in our community. We held visits to promote as well as extensive online promotions and competitions.

“We also listen to customer and stakeholder feedback.

“A working example of this, and following a recent promotional day at Llandough Hospital, will see changes to service 95 from the end of July including a doubling of Sunday buses along the route and a later bus during weekdays.”

NAT Travel had not responded to a request for comment at the time of going to press.