RESIDENTS have blasted a bus firm’s route closure excuse, branding it “total rubbish”.

Arriva confirmed last week that its number 32/33 service would cease to pick up and drop off passengers at Watts Dyke in Llay but would instead stay on the main road.

After residents and councillors spoke of their concerns over the impact on elderly and disabled residents on the Watts Dyke estate, Arriva confirmed the reason behind the change of route is that parked cars in the road are ‘causing a hazard’ and the company had been ‘forced’ to change the route.

But most residents who spoke to the Leader last week disagreed about the problem of parked cars on the road.

Fion Beale, 56, who has lived in Watts Dyke for 24 years, said: “You get the odd one or two parked cars but they don’t park on both sides of the road. I don’t drive and my husband has just had a triple heart bypass so for me to get shopping now I’m relying on the buses.

“I also start work at 6am in the morning and I work late at night. I don’t particularly want to be walking down there on my own.” 

Her husband Stephen Beale said he didn’t agree that parked cars were a problem and was concerned for those who will have the furthest to walk to the main road, including older and disabled residents.

Watts Dyke resident Phil Hatley feels parked cars do present a problem in some parts of Watts Dyke – but they were mainly on the corners.

On the change to the route, he added: “It’s not very nice for the older people around here. It’s a well used service.”

A number of residents told the Leader they feel the problem of parked cars is much worse on other parts of the bus route.

A former lorry driver who lives in Ffordd Gryffydd, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s total rubbish. 

“If you go into the village, Ninth and Tenth Avenue are far worse.

“There have been cars parked down here for donkeys years – it is an excuse. 

“This is driving today – we’re all up against it.” 

Watts Dyke resident Rachael Bradley, 41, said: “I have to use the bus for work if my husband is not in. The bus does not struggle here.

“The council estate across the other side is a nightmare but they’re still using that.” 

Regarding Arriva’s explanation for the change being the hazard of parked cars, Sandra Allen of Ffordd Gryffydd said: “It is totally untrue – if you go over on the council side, there is far more traffic.

“There are parked cars all over the place and the roads are a heck of a lot narrower than ours.” 

Mrs Allen said she also felt Arriva have not provided enough information to residents about exactly when and where they can now catch their bus.

Arriva has been asked by the Leader about the impact of parked cars on its services in other Llay village roads as compared to Watts Dyke.

In the company’s initial statement about the route change, a spokesman said: “The safety of passengers on board our buses is always our first priority.

“Due to the increasing number of indiscriminately parked cars in Watts Dyke that are a causing a hazard, we have been forced to make the decision to re-route this service to serve another nearby bus stop.

“The changes have been made after careful consideration alongside Wrexham Council and we hope disruption to passengers will be minimal.”