A long-running battle to restore a vital bus route is showing no signs of slowing down.
Campaigners are calling for the reinstatement of Penarth’s 93 service and are pressing the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Cardiff Bus to bring it back through Poets Corner.
The campaigners say its loss has left elderly and disabled residents cut off from their communities and unable to make essential journeys.
Their calls were raised again at a recent Vale of Glamorgan Place Scrutiny Committee meeting, where campaigner Paul Fenton addressed councillors and officers.
He spoke of the impact on residents but said he was unable to share all his evidence during the session due to the three-minute speaking limit.
Mr Fenton said: "I was restricted to the three-minute public speaking limit and was unable to cover several important points I had prepared, including Welsh Government funding, the Bus Services (Wales) Act and other evidence which I believe was relevant."
He also raised concerns about the meeting being held entirely on Zoom, where internet connection issues repeatedly disrupted the discussion.
He said: "During the evening there were a number of internet connection problems affecting participants, and I have requested a copy of the recording so that I can accurately review everything that was said."
Despite these frustrations, Mr Fenton said he was encouraged by support from some members of the committee.
Councillor Vince Driscoll spoke favourably about his presentation and suggested the issue should be revisited, a request which was acknowledged by the chair.
Mr Fenton said: "For me, this has never been about politics. It has always been about ensuring that elderly and less mobile residents are not isolated from their community and are able to access shops, medical appointments and public transport with dignity."
The loss of the 93 bus service has drawn growing concern from Penarth residents, particularly in Poets Corner, where more than 500 people have signed a petition to restore the route.
The route was changed more than a year ago and replaced with the number 7 service, which only runs between 10am and 4pm on weekdays and does not operate at weekends.
Many residents, including those who are elderly or have mobility issues, have described the 93 bus as a lifeline that connected them to shops, GP appointments, and social activities.
Irene Harries, 68, previously told the Penarth Times that she now spends up to £25 a day on taxis because she cannot manage the longer walk to the nearest 93 stop.
Penarth residents renew fight to bring back 93 bus route | Penarth Times
Others have said they have been forced to cut back on work, social plans, and medical visits because they cannot rely on the current service.
The petition calls on the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Cardiff Bus to reinstate a direct, all-day service through Poets Corner, including evenings and weekends.
Residents acknowledge the need to balance routes serving other areas such as Llandough Hospital, Andrew Road, and the Cowslip Estate.
However, they argue that this should not come at the expense of a long-established community with a high population of older and disabled people.
The Vale council previously says the route was changed to enable provision for other areas which had previously been withdrawn.
Mr Fenton described meeting two elderly residents, both named Hazel, aged 83 and 91, who have given up driving and said they were "devastated" by the loss of the service.
He said: "The issue has never been whether a healthy person can complete that walk.
"It is whether elderly residents, many with mobility problems, can realistically do so safely and confidently.
"Their experiences suggest otherwise, and this reflects the wider concerns raised throughout the campaign: that the current arrangements do not adequately meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable members of our community."
He confirmed that the campaign will continue until a solution is found.
A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson said: “
As part of a request to consider a bus stop at the junction of Tennyson Road and Wordsworth Avenue in Penarth, a subsequent assessment of the existing public transport provision has shown that the ‘Poets Corner’ area is already within reasonable walking distance of several bus stops served by multiple bus routes.
“The nearest bus stop is on Redlands Road, which is approximately nine minutes’ walk from the junction of Tennyson Road and Wordsworth Avenue, and provides access to bus services 7, 93 and 305.
“In the opposite direction, the bus stop on Windsor Road, accessed via the Dingle footbridge, is also nine minutes’ walk away. This stop is served by routes 92, 93 and 94.
“A slightly longer walk of approximately 11 minutes to Stanwell Road also provides access to services 7, 92, 93 and 94 and would be considered more accessible due to the gentler gradient uphill.
“The ‘Poets Corner’ area also still benefits from a daytime hourly bus service from Monday to Friday.”
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