Bus Services (Wales) Act 2026

12 Local bus service permits

(1) If the Welsh Ministers consider that the requirements in subsection (3) are met, they may (whether for the purposes of fulfilling their duty under section 5(1)(c) in respect of a local bus service, or otherwise) grant a permit under this section to a person within subsection (4).

(2) A permit granted under this section (referred to in this Act as a “local bus service permit”) is a permit, in respect of a local bus service, under which the person to whom the permit is granted is authorised to provide the service during the period for which the permit has effect.

(3) The requirements are that granting the permit—

(a) would not have a material adverse impact on a local bus service provided under a local bus service contract, or provided by the Welsh Ministers under section 18;

(b) would not be inconsistent with the policies and proposals set out in the Wales Transport Strategy.

(4) The persons within this subsection are—

(a) a person who is the holder of a community bus permit;

(b) a person who is the holder of a PSV operator’s licence.

(5) The reference in subsection (4)(b) to a PSV operator’s licence does not include—

(a) a licence to which a condition is attached under section 26(1A) of the 1985 Act (power of traffic commissioner to attach conditions to licences) prohibiting the holder from using vehicles under the licence to provide local bus services of all descriptions, or of a description specified in the condition;

(b) a licence that has been suspended under section 17(2) of the 1981 Act or section 28(2) of the 1985 Act.

(6) The Welsh Ministers may grant a permit to which conditions are attached (for further provision about conditions see section 14).