James Evans has asked the Welsh Government about its plans for improving bus services.

The Brecon and Radnorshire MS said at the Senedd that the Government has identified ways in which rural public transport can be addressed.

He told Deputy Climate Change Minister, Lee Waters, that rural public transport is a “massive issue” in his area.

Mr Evans asked for more information about the ways in which bus services are to be improved.

Mr Waters said he would be happy for MSs to take part in a round table discussion on any ideas they have in terms of improving bus services as part of the Wales transport strategy.

He said: “We set out some initial thoughts, looking at examples in other parts of the UK and on the continent of how rural areas addressed the need for sustainable transport.

“We’ve asked the Burns commission in its work on North Wales to specifically look at solutions for rural areas.“They’ll be looking at it in the context of North Wales, but they will have applicability to other rural parts of Wales.

“With the exception of parts of Cardiff, every local authority in Wales has rural areas, so this is not a Mid Wales agenda. This is for the whole of Wales.”

Mr Waters said sustainable transport is absolutely achievable in rural areas, but it takes a slightly different approach to urban areas.

He told Mr Evans: “For example, you could have Fflecsi buses, but you could also have car sharing, car clubs and electric bikes alongside safe infrastructure away from traffic.

“There is a range of different schemes that have been tried and shown to be successful.

“That’s the work we’re doing to try and flesh that out. I’d be keen to engage with Members for them to feed in to help us shape that together.”