COUNCILLORS have slammed the bus service that operates on their estate which they say has left pensioners ‘trapped in their own homes’.

Caia Park councillors raised concerns about their local bus service after a survey by Glyndwr University, sent to members for consideration at the meeting, aimed at identifying possible barriers to employment.

Cllr Brian Halley added that he thinks the services are running fine for parts of Caia Park, but not after 6pm in the week.

He said: “It is affecting the lives of a lot of people because there will be people that want to go out to the cinema, to the bingo or to go for a meal with friends and they can’t do that without having to account for taxis.

"It is placing a restriction on people and causing people to become isolated in their own community unless they can drive.

“There are no buses at all on a Sunday – aside from the bus that takes you to HMP Berwyn.”

Labour councillor Brian Cameron responded to comments that the bus service was ‘fine’ in saying that the areas bus service is ‘not fit for purpose’

He said: “It all depends which part of the area you live in and, in some areas like Pentre Gwyn and Kingsmill Road, they operate a two hourly bus service. That is not fit for purpose.

“People are telling me that they have to cancel hospital appointments because they can’t get the bus there.”

Also adding concerns was Cllr Adrienne Jeorett, representing the Smithfield area, who said: “I have heard that older people in Caia are now not able to get out of home as often and leading to people concerned about isolation. I worry that people are becoming trapped in their own homes and think this could build into a bigger problem if we don’t do something now.”

Chair of the meeting, Cllr Malcolm King, said that it is important to send feedback to the survey that people have barriers to more than just working lives as a result of the local transport system and that it impacts on their social lives as well.