CONCERNS have been raised that communities will be "isolated" if bus services are scrapped.

Stagecoach has announced that services 9, 10, 12, 16 and 17 in Pontypool will be 'deregistered' at the end of April.

The company says these are tendered services which operate on behalf of Torfaen County Council and the contract is coming to an end.

However, that does not mean the services will be scrapped as the council is putting a new contract out to tender.

Anthony Mobroft, who relies on public transport, said that if the services were scrapped, “local estates will no longer be served and this will isolate communities".

“This really would put the nail in the coffin as some people won’t be able to get around anymore," he said.

“Due to ill health, I can’t drive anymore and rely on public transport, I would be severely impacted.”

However, a Torfaen Council spokesman said a tender process to renew the services is under way.

He said: "The bus services will be maintained at current levels with no loss of service to the public.”

A spokesperson from Stagecoach South Wales said that services 9, 10, 12, 16, 17 in Pontypool are "tendered services that Stagecoach operate on behalf of Torfaen County Council". That means the company is paid by the council to operate them.

“The contracts will end in April and have been deregistered as part of the registration process," said the spokesperson.

“Stagecoach is awaiting a decision from the council regarding which operator will be awarded the contracts going forward. We will update our customers via our usual channels." 

Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify that the bus services have not been scrapped but the contract is ending and the services put back out to tender.