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Tanat Valley acquires Mid Wales Travel's Newtown operations
Tanat Valley Coaches has expanded for the second time in as many months, with the acquisition of the Newtown, Powys, operations of Mid Wales Travel.

Under the deal, five vehicles and four drivers have passed to Tanat. Vehicles acquired include three UVG-bodied Dennis Javelins, a Plaxton-bodied Mercedes-Benz midibus and a Plaxton Paramount-bodied Volvo B10M. The acquired business comprises four school contracts, a regular local bus service and three express services, in addition to a town centre office in Newtown.

As previously reported in CBW, Tanat recently acquired a commercial vehicle maintenance business in the nearby village of Kerry. This enabled the Abermule outstation to be closed and bus and coach operation to be moved to the superior maintenance facilities now available. The former Mid Wales Travel vehicles have now also moved to Kerry.

Tanat Valley's headquarters at Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant, near Oswestry continue as before.

Nick Culliford, operations manager said: "It forms part of the development of the firm. This acquisition strengthens our position in the Newtown area. Repainting the vehicles will be a gradual process over the coming months."

Meanwhile, Mid Wales says it will concentrate on its established operations in the Aberystwyth area. Based at Penrhyncoch in the county of Ceredigion, the firm operates a mixture of local bus services and private hire coaches. Mel Evans of Mid Wales Travel told CBW: "The sale marks the end of an era for Mid Wales Motorways and Mid Wales Travel in the Newtown area. The depot is of historical interest as the old Mid Wales Motorways used to build buses in the yard at Newtown at one time.

"We, as what was then known as Evans Coaches, acquired the old Mid Wales Motorways (1963) Ltd in 1990. We merged it with the two firms and retained the Mid Wales Motorways Travel name because at that time, it was the larger of the two firms. The combined fleets gave us 25 vehicles. Latterly, however, it has stood at 19.

"The sale will enable us to consolidate our existing operations in the Aberystwyth area.?
Although leased to Mid Wales Travel, CBW understands the former Mid Wales depot in Newtown has been sold to developers acting on behalf of Tesco, which is to build a store on the site of the adjoining Smithfield site.

Meanwhile, Tanat Valley Coaches also recently held an open day in Newtown, which included hosting a Bus Users Cymru surgery. Representatives were present from organisations which included Powys County Council, Tanat Valley Coaches, Bus Users Cymru and Stagecoach in South Wales, which operates the Traws Cambria service to the town. A buffet and refreshments were provided by Tanat Valley.

Margaret Everson of Bus Users Cymru told CBW; "All together it was a very rewarding day. We were delighted to be part of Tanat Valley's initiative.

They organised it and invited us along. I'm pleased to say there was a steady flow of largely happy customers."
Mr Culliford was equally pleased with the open day. "We were delighted with the response and pleased to welcome our colleagues from Stagecoach in South Wales, Bus Users Cymru and Powys County Council," he told CBW.