Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert has given a cautious welcome to Plaid-controlled Caerphilly County Borough Council’s U-turn on its plans to introduce charges at rail park-and-ride facilities along the Rhymney Valley line.
The Plaid Council has deferred the introduction of a daily £1.50 charge for another year following a campaign of opposition from Jeff Cuthbert and commuters who use stations along the line on a daily basis.
Recently, while giving evidence to an Assembly committee, Welsh transport expert Professor Stuart Cole told Jeff it was essential that rail park and ride facilities were free.
Jeff Cuthbert AM said: “I’m pleased that the Plaid Council has decided not to proceed with their plans to charge for park and ride. But I notice that the plans are not abandoned and have been deferred for one year. They should be scrapped completely.
“Experts in the field of public transport have told me that park and ride must be free so that people are not discouraged from switching from trains back to cars. And this seems common sense to me.
“But I’m glad that the Plaid Council has listened to me and many others on this matter at least for the time being.
“You can’t help but wonder at the number of U-turns performed recently by the Plaid Council. Are there more to come? And is the closeness of the Assembly elections a factor?”
