Bus Services (Wales) Act 2026

6 Preparation of Welsh Bus Network Plan

(1) Before publishing the Welsh Bus Network Plan under section 5(1)(b), the Welsh Ministers must prepare a draft of the Plan.

(2) In preparing the draft of the Welsh Bus Network Plan, the Welsh Ministers must seek the views of every local authority.

(3) The Welsh Ministers must also, in preparing the draft of the Welsh Bus Network Plan, have regard to each of the following—

(a) the Wales Transport Strategy;

(b) each regional transport plan having effect under section 109A of the Transport Act 2000 (c. 38);

(c) the functions of local authorities under the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 (nawm 2).

(4) Having prepared the draft of the Welsh Bus Network Plan, the Welsh Ministers must, before publishing the Plan, consult each of the following persons on the draft—

(a) every local authority;

(b) each corporate joint committee established by regulations made under Part 5 of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 (asc 1);

(c) the National Park authority for each National Park in Wales;

(d) any persons appearing to the Welsh Ministers to represent the interests of operators of local bus services that the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate;

(e) any persons appearing to the Welsh Ministers to represent the interests of employees of operators of local bus services that the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate;

(f) any persons appearing to the Welsh Ministers to represent the interests of persons using or likely to use local bus services that the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate;

(g) any other person that the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.

(5) Having consulted those persons on the draft of the Welsh Bus Network Plan, the Welsh Ministers may publish the Plan under section 5(1)(b) either in the terms of the draft or, if they consider it appropriate having regard to any views expressed in the course of the consultation, in other terms.

(6) As soon as practicable after publishing the Welsh Bus Network Plan under section 5(1)(b), the Welsh Ministers must lay it before Senedd Cymru.

(7) The requirement imposed by subsection (1) to prepare a draft of the Welsh Bus Network Plan may be satisfied by a draft prepared before the coming into force of this section.

(8) The requirement imposed by subsection (2) that the Welsh Ministers seek views in preparing a draft of the Welsh Bus Network Plan may be satisfied by seeking views before the coming into force of this section.

(9) The requirement imposed by subsection (4) to consult on a draft of the Welsh Bus Network Plan may be satisfied by consultation carried out before the coming into force of this section.