Labour council’s £2.3 million cable car proves costly and unreliable

Blaenau Gwent Council has quietly announced that it is planning to close the Ebbw Vale cable car at the end of April. The lift, which cost £2.3 million to build and £52,000 a year to run, has been plagued with breakdowns since it opened in 2015 – with 252 closures in the first two years alone.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS said:

“Many people questioned the point of the lift in the first place and we now know that is has proven to be a costly and unreliable service.

“Whilst it may have encouraged more people to walk, surely steps and a more basic lift would have done the same job with less hassle.

“There is concern now that the cable car site will just remain empty and unused becoming a centre for vandalism and anti-social behaviour.”