DELIGHTED community leaders in a Gwent town are celebrating after helping to secure the future of an evening bus service threatened by stone-throwing vandals.
Despite being one of the most deprived wards in Wales, Trevethin, in Pontypool, faced losing its crucial evening bus service because of the antics of a handful of youths.
As reported in the Argus, Blaina-based operator Francis Drake confirmed he was pulling out at the end of this month.
He said hundreds of pounds' worth of damage had been caused to his vehicles.
Torfaen council was told the Trevethin route, which links Trevethin, Penygarn and St Cadoc's with Pontypool after 7pm, would cease due to "ongoing anti-social behaviour problems".
But now a new operator - Pontypool-based Welcome Travel - is due to take over thanks to concerted lobbying by community leaders and the efforts of the council.
Local member Councillor Lewis Jones said he was "delighted and relieved".
He said: "Both Councillor John Marshall and myself are very grateful to the local authority for renewing the contract.
"It means people who depend on this service to get to work in the evenings will be able to do so."
Councillor Jones said a significant number of people in the community did not own a car and depended on the service, which is subsidised by the council.In an effort to catch the youths, plain-clothes officers travelled on the troubled route last year.
Ron Matthews, of Welcome Travel, said he was impressed by the efforts of the community to stamp out the trouble, which included school visits by councillors and youth workers.
He said: "They have worked hard to keep a service going and try to improve the situation. We were prepared to start as soon as possible." Mr Matthews said his company had run the service in the past and had experienced similar attacks.
But he insisted: "We will be ensuring drivers are adequately protected and have radio contact with the police in case of problems."
Community First worker Andrew Havvas said work with primary school children on safety booklets and posters had highlighted the problem. "We are continuing to engage with youngsters and offer them more opportunities through youth work," he said.
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