Islwyn Borough Transport
Encyclopedia
Islwyn Borough Transport (IBT) was the provider of bus services around Blackwood and surrounding towns in the former borough of Islwyn, United Kingdom
. It was formed in April 1974 when the Borough of Islwyn
was created, and took over the operations of the West Monmouthshire Omnibus Board which had operated since 1926. In April 1996 control passed to Caerphilly County Borough Council
. In January 2010 the business and assets were transferred to Stagecoach in South Wales. It was the smallest of the remaining municipal bus companies
in recent years. Its depot and offices were in Penmaen Road, Pontllanfraith
.
in April 1974. The area had previously been part of West Monmouthshire. From 1926 it had been served by the West Monmouthshire Omnibus Board, which had been created by taking over some of the services and vehicles of three local operators. A depot in Blackwood High Street was used from 1926 to 1984, when a new depot in Pontllanfraith
was opened. A second change in local government saw Islwyn become part of Caerphilly County Borough in 1996, and control of the company passed to Caerphilly County Borough Council
.
In November 2009 it was announced that the borough council had agreed to sell the company to Stagecoach Group
. The purchase cost was later revealed to be £2.65 million. The move attracted some criticism within the region, as no other potential buyers had been consulted: local bus operator Clayton Jones stated that he would have made a bid had the proposal been openly discussed. It was also noted that the council had lost around £15 million after the collapse of an Icelandic bank during the Late-2000s financial crisis
earlier in the year. The council described claims that the two events were linked as a "wild accusation", noting that Stagecoach intended to retain all Islwyn staff members. The deal was concluded in early January 2010, with Islwyn's operations integrated with those of Stagecoach in South Wales.
and Blackwood, taking in Cardiff
and Bargoed
. School contracts were also operated, but no services were run on Sundays.
Its routes are now operated by Stagecoach in South Wales.
The company operated coaches from 1988. Independent operator Paul Diaper Tours was taken over in 1991, and the coaching division rebranded to Kingfisher Travel. The operations were sold to Diamond Holidays in 2009.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was formed in April 1974 when the Borough of Islwyn
Islwyn
The Borough of Islwyn was one of five local government districts of Gwent from 1983 to 2011.The district was formed under the Local Government Act 1972 from part of the administrative county of Monmouthshire, namely the urban districts of Abercarn, Mynyddislwyn and Risca, and the Bedwellty urban...
was created, and took over the operations of the West Monmouthshire Omnibus Board which had operated since 1926. In April 1996 control passed to Caerphilly County Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council is the governing body for Caerphilly , one of the Principal Areas of Wales.- Current composition :- Historic results :-Electoral divisions:...
. In January 2010 the business and assets were transferred to Stagecoach in South Wales. It was the smallest of the remaining municipal bus companies
Municipal bus companies
A municipal bus company is an operator of bus services owned by the local government authority. This article lists all current municipal bus companies in the United Kingdom....
in recent years. Its depot and offices were in Penmaen Road, Pontllanfraith
Pontllanfraith
Pontllanfraith is a large village located in the Sirhowy Valley in Caerphilly county borough, south Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It is situated adjacent to the town of Blackwood, with the Sirhowy River passing through both locations...
.
History
Islwyn Borough Transport was formed on the creation of the Borough of IslwynIslwyn
The Borough of Islwyn was one of five local government districts of Gwent from 1983 to 2011.The district was formed under the Local Government Act 1972 from part of the administrative county of Monmouthshire, namely the urban districts of Abercarn, Mynyddislwyn and Risca, and the Bedwellty urban...
in April 1974. The area had previously been part of West Monmouthshire. From 1926 it had been served by the West Monmouthshire Omnibus Board, which had been created by taking over some of the services and vehicles of three local operators. A depot in Blackwood High Street was used from 1926 to 1984, when a new depot in Pontllanfraith
Pontllanfraith
Pontllanfraith is a large village located in the Sirhowy Valley in Caerphilly county borough, south Wales, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It is situated adjacent to the town of Blackwood, with the Sirhowy River passing through both locations...
was opened. A second change in local government saw Islwyn become part of Caerphilly County Borough in 1996, and control of the company passed to Caerphilly County Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council is the governing body for Caerphilly , one of the Principal Areas of Wales.- Current composition :- Historic results :-Electoral divisions:...
.
In November 2009 it was announced that the borough council had agreed to sell the company to Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
. The purchase cost was later revealed to be £2.65 million. The move attracted some criticism within the region, as no other potential buyers had been consulted: local bus operator Clayton Jones stated that he would have made a bid had the proposal been openly discussed. It was also noted that the council had lost around £15 million after the collapse of an Icelandic bank during the Late-2000s financial crisis
Late-2000s financial crisis
The late-2000s financial crisis is considered by many economists to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s...
earlier in the year. The council described claims that the two events were linked as a "wild accusation", noting that Stagecoach intended to retain all Islwyn staff members. The deal was concluded in early January 2010, with Islwyn's operations integrated with those of Stagecoach in South Wales.
Bus routes
Prior to its sale in 2010, Islwyn operated 18 local bus routes centred on CaerphillyCaerphilly
Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
and Blackwood, taking in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and Bargoed
Bargoed
Bargoed is a town in the Rhymney Valley, Wales, one of the South Wales Valleys. It lies on the Rhymney River in the county borough of Caerphilly and straddles ancient boundary of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire. 'Greater Bargoed', as defined by the local authority Caerphilly County Borough Council,...
. School contracts were also operated, but no services were run on Sundays.
Its routes are now operated by Stagecoach in South Wales.
Coaches
External links
- Welsh-Transport-Heritage - a look back in time at the history of Islwyn Borough Transport and its predecessors
- The Welsh Heartlands Transport Festival - A website celebrating the history of Caerphilly UDC and Bedwas & Machan UDC motor bus departments which both started in the year 1917