James Evans MS has asked the Welsh Government if there any plans for Transport for Wales (TfW) to start operating a bus route between Trecastle and Llandovery.

In the Senedd, the Brecon and Radnorshire MS asked Cabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates MS what his priorities were for public transport in Brecon and Radnorshire.

“Many people who live in my part of the world do feel that there is plenty of investment that goes in to the south Wales Valleys, but, actually, no investment into my constituency,” said Mr Evans.

“We've got a major transport link that links my constituency to Adam Price's constituency between Trecastle and Llandovery - that road does not have any bus service on it whatsoever. That is an actual major tourist link back and forth between west Wales and mid Wales, and I think it would be beneficial to put that transport link in place to actually open up different parts of the country, so people don't have to get in their cars and actually can get on a bus to travel around the country.”

He asked Mr Skates if he would “step up to the plate” and deliver the transport links.

Mr Skates told Mr Evans the bus system is “broken” at the moment, which is why the Bus Bill was being brought forward.

“Operators, they pick off those routes that are commercially attractive and they leave huge gaps elsewhere, including the gap that the Member has rightly identified today,” he said.

Mr Skates said that he would invite TFW to work with his officials to look at whether a service could be introduced.

“Of course we're operating in very, very financially straitened times, but I will ask for work to be done and I'll report back to the Member,” he told Mr Evans.

After the session, Mr Evans said: “It’s shocking that a major tourist link, such as the one between Trecastle and Llandovery, does not have any form of public transport service that operates on it.

“I am encouraged by the Cabinet Secretary’s response that TFW will assess the route, but I will not believe it until action is taken.”