The night time economy - our local pubs and clubs - relies on transport services to get our customers home safely at the end of the night.

Before the Covid pandemic hit, Stagecoach operated a late night 151 service which served the communities of Newbridge, Abercarn, Cwmcarn, Pontywaun, Crosskeys, and Risca amongst others. As we endeavour to return to some kind of normality, Stagecoach has not resumed these services, leaving a hole in the transport network that our customers rely on.

The last bus home on a Friday and Saturday night is typically now two hours earlier than it was before the pandemic. Pubs and clubs are missing out on vital business as our customers now return home earlier than they normally would, and late night entertainment is becoming unviable as the crowd disappears to get affordable transport home. Taxi services are not a suitable alternative for most people, particularly the older generation who benefit from free bus travel.

This petition calls for the return of the late night 151 bus service so that pubs, clubs, and other late night businesses along the route it serves can recover some of the business that has been lost to Covid, and continue to serve their communities long into the future.