I had recently moved to Bridgend, a town that many, including myself, consider to be in decline. If you walk through the streets of Bridgend, you'll notice numerous 'for sale' and 'to let' signs accompanying boarded-up shop fronts and abandoned windows. My mother often reminisces, saying, “It wasn't always like this.” However, one aspect of Bridgend that remains bustling, regardless of the weather, is Bridgend Bus Station.

The station provides the essential service of transportation that many residents, including me, rely on. Recently, the council has discussed the station's future due to budget cuts, raising concerns about its potential closure and its impact on the local community. After hearing the news, I decided to visit the station to speak with locals who use the service and gather their opinions.

While I was taking photographs of the station, I overheard conversations about its possible closure. A man, familiar to the staff, expressed his thoughts on the matter, stating, “They say it every time, and it never happens.” The staff replied in agreement, “I know, I know.”

When I asked a staff member about the potential closure, he echoed the same sentiment—that threats to close the station had been made repeatedly over the years, yet it remains open. There seemed to be no concern among the patrons; there were no “Save Our Bus Station” signs in sight.

The Station

A black and white photo of a bus stop with people walking and waiting, a bus parked at the station, and a distinctive cylindrical building with a clock near the top.
A woman standing against a brick wall, talking on her phone near a bus station sign that reads 'Bridgend Bus Station Gorsaf Fysiau Pen-y-bont'.
People waiting inside a public transportation station, sitting on benches and standing, with some using phones or carrying bags, in a spacious, well-lit area with large windows.
Three women standing together, one elderly woman sitting in a wheelchair, outside a building with a sign in the background.
People sitting and waiting on benches at a transit station or bus stop, some engaged in conversation.
Two men inside a building, standing near a window. One man is drinking from a bottle, the other is facing away from the camera. The background shows a street scene with storefronts.
An elderly man in a jacket is at a ticket machine, pressing buttons. People are seated in the background at a transportation station.
A man with tattoos on his head and neck, wearing a Santa Cruz jacket, stands in a busy transportation hub with other people waiting and walking in the background.
People sitting on benches at a busy transportation hub, with some using phones and others waiting.
Two elderly individuals sitting on a bench at a public transportation station, with a group of people standing and walking behind them in black and white.
A black and white photo of a smiling elderly woman and a smiling middle-aged man, hugging each other outdoors, in front of a brick wall. The man is wearing a black beanie, hoodie, and jacket. The woman has light-colored hair and is wearing a patterne
People standing in line at a bus stop with numbered signs, and a bus arriving.
A man wearing glasses and a First Bus uniform, standing outdoors near a brick wall and a bus stop.
A man with glasses and a quilted jacket talking on a cellphone on a city sidewalk, with a bus labeled 'Taft Valley' and a group of people waiting outside a building behind him.