Llythyr a gafodd ei ddatgelu’n dangos prif gynghorwyr Llafur yn rhannu barn Plaid Cymru y bydd cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru ar drafnidiaeth yn gwahanu cymunedau

Dywed Llyr Gruffydd o Blaid Cymru y bydd toriadau i fysiau yn gadael cymunedau “heb opsiynau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus”

Mae llythyr a ddatgelwyd gan Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru (CLlLC) wedi datgelu bod cynghorwyr Llafur blaenllaw yn credu y bydd cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i dorri arian bysiau yn gwahanu cymunedau.

Dywedodd yr Aelod o'r Senedd Plaid Cymru, Llyr Gruffydd, fod y llythyr yn dangos bod pryderon difrifol ei blaid am ddyfodol trafnidiaeth drwy Gymru gyfan yn cael eu rhannu gan gynghorwyr ym mhob rhan o Gymru ac anogodd y Llywodraeth Lafur i ailfeddwl am y toriadau ariannol.

Mewn llythyr at y Prif Weinidog, Mark Drakeford, dyddiedig 13eg Mawrth, amlinellodd y Cynghorwyr Llafur Andrew Morgan a Rob Stewart, Arweinydd a Dirprwy Arweinydd Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, sawl mater ym mholisi cludiant “o’r brig i lawr” Llywodraeth Cymru, a oedd yn achosi “storm berffaith i gymunedau”, a dull o gyflwyno newid mewn polisi trafnidiaeth sydd cosbi yn hytrach na chefnogi.

Roedd y llythyr at y Prif Weinidog yn amlinellu sawl maes oedd yn peri pryder, gan gynnwys:

  • Yr Adolygiad Ffyrdd, lle roedd trafodaethau cyfyng iawn gydag Arweinwyr y Cynghorau, a hynny wedi i’r adolygiad ddod i’w gasgliadau, a’r “natur creu polisi wrth ddesg.”
  • Cynllunio “rhoi’r cart o flaen y ceffyl”, gan gyfeirio at y diffyg buddsoddiad mewn dewisiadau eraill o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus sydd eu hangen i annog pobl allan o geir ac ymlaen at drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus.
  • “Cynifer y materion sy’n ymwneud â thrafnidiaeth” sy’n gadael cynghorau o dan straen, gyda mwy o gynigion gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi staff priffyrdd a trafnidiaeth cynghorau o dan bwysau mawr. Codwyd bryder hefyd y byddai goblygiadau polisïau fel yr un 20mya ar drafnidiaeth ysgol a chynlluniau gwasanaeth gaeaf, gyda angen gwneud trefniadau ar gyfer shifftiau hirach.
  • Pryderon cefn gwlad, ble nad oes gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus mewn rhai ardaloedd - a sgil effaith hyn ar ddatblygiad economaidd, a lle mae teithio llesol “ddim yn opsiwn realistig”.
  • Anghydraddoldeb cymdeithasol a chadw mas llawer o drigolion lle mae “trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn ‘rhaff achub’ gan nad ydyn nhw naill ai’n gallu fforddio, neu’n methu, gyrru.”
  • Pryderon am ymddygiad y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog sydd wedi arwain at gynghorwyr i fod yn “bryderus am natur y ddadl a thôn y cyfarfodydd”.

Cynhaliodd Plaid Cymru ddadl yn y Senedd ar ddyfodol y Cynllun Argyfwng Bysiau yn gynharach yr wythnos hon, a alwodd ar Lywodraeth Cymru i'r cynllun gael ei ymestyn am o leiaf 18 mis i ddarparu sicrwydd ariannol mwy hirdymor i weithredwyr bysiau ledled Cymru. Galwodd y cynnig hefyd ar y llywodraeth i gyflwyno opsiynau cyllido diogel hirdymor i gynnal gwasanaethau bws, yn hytrach na chynlluniau ariannu brys.

Cafodd y ddwy alwad eu gwrthod gan y Llywodraeth Lafur a'r dirprwy weinidog trafnidiaeth, Lee Waters.

Roedd sylwadau’r llythyr i’w gweld yn cytuno â galwadau Plaid Cymru ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau cyllid ar gyfer bysiau yn y tymor hir. Dywedodd y Cynghorwyr Andrew Morgan a Rob Stewart:

“Mae croeso i’r ffaith bod [Cyllid Bysiau] yn cael ei ymestyn, ond mae galwad am ffyrdd i wneud y cyllid yn barhaol fel bod modd gwarchod gwasanaethau. Er nad yw niferoedd y teithwyr wedi adfer ar ôl Covid, ni fyddan nhw byth os bydd gwasanaethau’n dechrau cael eu torri ar draws Cymru. [...] “Mae colli gwasanaethau bws o bosib yn ddinistriol i’r grwpiau hyn [pobl hŷn, pobl ifanc, pobl ag anableddau ac aelwydydd incwm isel], gan effeithio ar eu lles drwy gyfyngu mynediad at wasanaethau addysgol, economaidd, iechyd a hamdden ac i gysylltiadau teuluol a chymdeithasol.”

Wrth ymateb i’r llythyr beirniadol, dywedodd llefarydd Plaid Cymru ar lywodraeth leol, Llyr Gruffydd AS:

“Mae’n glir bod pryderon difrifol Plaid Cymru am ddyfodol trafnidiaeth ledled Cymru yn cael eu rhannu gan gynghorwyr ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Yn benodol, mae llawer iawn o bryder am ddyfodol gwasanaethau bws a fydd, fel y maent ar hyn o bryd, yn gadael cymunedau wedi’u gwahanu. Dyma pam y cyflwynodd Plaid Cymru ddadl yn y Senedd yr wythnos hon ar ddyfodol y Cynllun Argyfwng Bws. “

“Mae cynlluniau presennol Llywodraeth Cymru ar fysiau ar fin gadael cymunedau heb opsiynau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Gallai hyn fod yn drychinebus i lawer - yn enwedig pobl hŷn, grwpiau bregus, cymunedau tlotach, a’r rhai sy’n byw mewn ardaloedd gwledig.

“Roedd darllen hefyd yn llythyr Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru at y Prif Weinidog bod materion yn ymwneud ag ymddygiad y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Drafnidiaeth, yn enwedig natur y ddadl a naws y cyfarfodydd, yn peri gofid.

“Wrth wraidd unrhyw gynllun i sicrhau dyfodol gwyrddach i Gymru gyfan rhaid fod yna system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus sydd wedi’i gwella ac sydd ar gael yn gyfartal i bawb. Mae rhaid i unrhyw gynllun sy’n ceisio mynd i’r afael â hyn sicrhau ei bod yn mynd â phawb yng Nghymru ar y daith honno.”

 

Llythyr Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru (CLlLC) - yn Saesneg yn unig

Dear First Minister,

TRANSPORT MATTERS: Roads review, bus funding/BES3 and franchising proposals, 20mph default, pavement parking, Active Travel and Regional Transport Plans

At the WLGA Executive Board meeting on 24th February, Leaders considered reports on the Roads Review and on Bus Funding. Together, the reports generated a long discussion which took up the majority of the meeting. Leaders are fully supportive of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and to improve public transport and active transport alternatives. However, a long list of concerns was aired and it was agreed these raise such important issues, transcending transport to impact on all other council service areas, that we should write to you as First Minister.

The main issues raised were as follows:

  • The lack of local engagement by the team that undertook the Roads Review: There was very limited contact with Leaders and then only after the review had reached its conclusions. There was no attempt to discuss the review with either of us, as WLGA Leader/Transport Spokesperson and Deputy Leader/Economy Spokesperson. Local communities that will be affected by the decisions were given no opportunity to input from their lived experiences. This ‘top down’ approach has raised wider concerns over Regional Transport Plans and the scope there will be for local discretion.
  • The narrow and desk-based nature of much of the Roads Review work: There is little knowledge or evidence of field work being undertaken by the team on the ground in the localities affected. Indeed, the team appears to have divided up the roads to carry out their assessments, with not all team members visiting or being involved in each case. The focus on the merits or otherwise of road proposals was felt to have overlooked much wider dependencies and issues of community resilience linked to such schemes.
  • ‘Cart before horse’ planning: This phrase was used in the meeting, referring to the lack of investment in public transport alternatives needed to encourage people out of cars and on to public transport. The fact BES3 is being extended was welcomed but there was a call for ways to be found to make the funding permanent so that services can be protected. Whilst passenger numbers have not recovered post-Covid, they never will if services start to be cut across Wales. There were concerns it will result in a downward spiral of decline. The incongruity of having a concessionary pass but no bus to use it on was raised, predictably.
  • The sheer volume of transport-related issues councils are struggling to manage at present: As the heading of this letter indicates, there is a long list of transport-related projects and requirements, all of which are being taken forward simultaneously. The proposal on pavement parking enforcement is just the most recent example. This is placing councils’ highways and transport staff under great pressure with much of it being on top of the ‘day job’, such as maintaining highways and structures, keeping daily bus services running smoothly. Difficulties recruiting technical staff are exacerbating the position.
  • Implications for home to school transport and winter service plans – serious concerns were raised about the implications of the current circumstances for school transport. For some time now councils have been faced with operators withdrawing services only to see costs escalate dramatically when routes are re-tendered. If we start to lose services, drivers and even some operators, the situation is only going to worsen. The 20mph default speed limit, whilst having considerable support, will lengthen some home to school journey times, add to operator costs and put further upward pressure on tender prices. There are also implications of the 20mph default limit for winter service, as gritters travel at an average 28mph so the new limit will extend the time needed for runs, impacting on operators’ hours.
  • Rural concerns - a number of Leaders from the more rural authorities spoke of there already being no public transport services in some areas. They fear this will become more extensive. In such communities active travel is simply not a realistic option for many journeys given distances, weather conditions, terrain and safety concerns. Attempts to attract businesses to rural areas to create local sources of employment and reduce the need to travel are felt to be at risk if vital highway improvements and access routes are effectively ruled out and public transport options are not available.
  • Social inequality and exclusion: The point was made that for many residents, especially older people, young people, people with disabilities and low income households, public transport is a lifeline as they either cannot afford, or are unable, to drive. Loss of bus services is potentially devastating for these groups, impacting on their well-being by restricting access to educational, economic, heath and leisure services and to family and social contacts.

Taken together, one Leader described the situation as a ‘perfect storm’ for communities. Another referred to the current approach as ‘all stick and no carrot’. There was a proposal, endorsed by all Leaders, to seek an urgent meeting with you, involving a cross-party delegation, including rural representation.

We believe there is a need to have an open and honest discussion with you on the best way to achieve the ends we all want to see: safer roads, transport choice and equality of access, reducing emissions, healthy communities and thriving local economies. The current set of highways and transport policies are all well-intentioned and laudable in their own right, but we feel there is a better way to approach them. Leaders’ general feeling was that they are being handed down to councils rather than being developed with us.

Whilst we have been grateful to the Deputy Minister for his readiness to engage with Leaders and Transport Cabinet Members on these issues, members have been concerned about the nature of the debate and tone of the meetings. Leaders stressed the importance of mutual respect in our discussions. This has been at the heart of our successful joint working across a wide range of service areas.

We would be grateful if your office could liaise with WLGA officials to find a suitable date for a cross-party group of Leaders to meet with you. We are sure we can table date for a cross-party group of Leaders to meet with you. We are sure we can work together to agree a mutually acceptable way to take these matters forward.

Yours faithfully

Councillor Andrew Morgan (WLGA Leader)

Councillor Rob Stewart (WLGA Deputy Leader)