2019 marks the centenary of the bus service from Ruthin to Mold

2019 marks the centenary of the bus service from Ruthin to Mold. This was the first Crosville route into Denbighshire, write Peter Daniels and Ron Hughes.

Both Crosville Motor Services and Ruthin Borough Council had their sights on a bus service from Ruthin to Mold but for the intervention of the First World War. In 1918, the mayor was “strongly of the opinion that motor traction had come to stay”.

First Loggerheads (from 1908) and then Llanferres (1909) had benefited from a motor omnibus service from Mold. Both were suspended at the outbreak of war.

There were great celebrations when in July 1919 Crosville Motor Services began its Ruthin to Mold service. Initially, Crosville felt it would be seasonal. Its managing director stated, “We shall do our level best to provide a service right through” which, in fact, Crosville managed.

Initially, there were two trips from Ruthin at 1035 and 1600; and an additional third on Saturdays and Fair Days (the first Tuesday), at 2030, from outside the Castle Hotel. The journey time was 70 minutes and the single fare 2s/2d (11p).

Direct daily services from Ruthin to Birkenhead via Mold began in 1924. The single fare to Birkenhead was 7s/6d (38p). Meanwhile, from Mold, Crosville reached Llanarmon yn Iâl in 1928 and Eryrys in 1930. By 1929, most Mold - Ruthin journeys continued to Denbigh although, over the next 70 years, this extension was more off than on.

By the 1930s, vehicle technology had improved, with pneumatic rather than solid tyres. In the 1930s, buses were progressively converted from petrol to diesel fuel. The journey time between Ruthin and Mold reduced to 45 minutes.

In the 1930s, there were up to 13 departures each weekday between Ruthin and Mold.  These were more than halved during the Second World War

In 1942, Crosville progressively began painting their vehicles green, a colour in one shade or another associated with Ruthin’s buses for over 55 years.

It was in 1949 that Crosville operated the first through Ruthin - Mold - Chester service. This was initially one return journey on Wednesdays and Saturdays only. Meanwhile, from 1951, Ruthin departures for Mold were back up to 13 a day.

The 1919 timetable is reproduced with permission of the Flintshire Record Office (ref FC/C/6/240)

Over the years, the terminus has moved. In 1937 it became Market Street. In 1957, it moved to the rail station. Back it went to its current location, Market Street, in 1965. It was also in 1965 that the first through Ruthin - Llanarmon - Mold journey operated. From 1970 onwards, most Ruthin to Mold services operated via Llanarmon.

Other than at school times, when double deckers were required, during the 1960s and early 1970s, the bus service progressively became driver-only. By 2007, double decks were withdrawn.

The 1970s and 1980s seemed to have round upon round of bus service cuts and fares increases, as the private car took the bus service’s passengers. It was in 1971 that both Denbighshire and Flintshire began financially supporting the service, as remains the case today.

In 1986, successor Crosville Wales took over what was now a tendered bus service. The direct Chester service was withdrawn but subsequently reintroduced, withdrawn, introduced and withdrawn again several times before being reintroduced from 2010

In June 1998, Crosville Wales lost the tender to GHA Coaches, who operated the service till 2016. Thereafter, Stagecoach took over till M & H Coaches, in March 2018. In 2018, M & H invested in the service, the first time all departures operated by brand new vehicles—other, of course, than in 1919!

The current 1/X1/2 service is operated by M & H Coaches of Trefnant.

Here is Managing Director Margaret Owen and Business Support Manager Ryan Owen, alongside one of the new Wrightbus Streetlites used on the service.

More on this will be available towards the end of May at http://www.1919.cymru/

With thanks to the Ruthin and District Civic Association for the article. 

Dog fouling campaign in Denbighshire continues

The fight against dog fouling continues, with the Council warning it will take action against those who wilfully allow their dogs to foul in public without clearing up the mess.

Figures around the number of dog fouling incidents recorded by the Council since 2014 show that the highest number of incidents  happen over the winter months, in December, January and February.

92 incidents were reported in January 2015; 72 in January 2017 and 83 in January 2018.  The lowest number of incidents happen over the summer months. 

Research work has shown that this is due to the fact that days are darker and people assume they can allow their dogs to foul in public under the cover of darkness.

The figures show a real trend and it seems the winter months seem to be the main time for dog fouling.  We have seen plenty of evidence of dog fouling in dark areas where there are no street lights.  Some individuals believe they can get away with not clearing up after their animals under the cloak of darkness.  The only we way we can catch those responsible is by receiving information from the public.  The majority of complaints that come in to the Council are about dog fouling and residents have told us they would like to see this issue tackled. They see it as anti-social and being a blight on the landscape, as well as being a risk to people’s health.  We have been carrying out an enforcement and education campaign over recent years and that work continues.  The majority of people clean up after their animals and we thank them for that.  We are targeting these message at those who think it’s acceptable to leave their dog’s mess behind. 

It’s not acceptable and those responsible could be issued with a fixed penalty notice or find themselves before the courts.