I have started a powerful petition to Mark Harper MP – no more bus cuts. Rural isolation in the Dean isn't acceptable.  Contact me for a copy by e-mail or other version.

After reporting four, possibly five, bus 23 breakdowns on A48 between September 2 and September 7 I had an e-mail exchange with Rupert Cox, managing director of Stagecoach West.

He said some Forest bus routes are unprofitable and that there's no money to upgrade or invest and that the three main profitable routes now have those new buses.

He also said that mechanical problems do sometimes occur but the cause is not the vehicles' age. He said the coolant system is checked vigorously – engines are overheating.

He says buses running in rural areas are more prone to overheating. The radiators ingest dust, leaves and other roadside grime.

Mr Cox says breakdown stats show minimal disruption. I pointed out that if a bus breaks down and a mechanic arrives and bus continues, this is not counted as a breakdown.

I was told the Sunday breakdown at Minsterworth did not occur, that I had given an unreliable report. I confirmed again that the facts were correct.

Stagecoach double checked its reports. The incident had happened as told. This makes me question their statistics.

After further talks the helpful operations manager, James Williams, said buses that break down on long-haul Forest routes will be moved to urban areas.

At the launch of Forest Routes, the new brand for community transport, a presentation was made and we were asked how we believed Foresters travelled to work. We all said 'cars'.  No, the answer came – 'It's walking.'

Hmm. I checked with the last surveys and it is indeed cars followed by motorbikes, vans etc. I distrust statistics more. How is the Forest being presented? So we all walk to work, we do not need buses?

The Stagecoach evaluators and Gloucestershire. County Council's evaluators are on the buses now, clipboards at the ready, gathering stats.

Are you maintaining a profitable bus route? If you are not,  look forward to a winter of missed routes.

This government tells our local councils to make more cuts in 2015.  Buses will certainly be scrutinised. We need to act now.

Our transport budgets and decisions are made by Gloucestershire County Council not by the Forest of Dean District Council.

Roseanna Marshall in Newent is petitioning for more evening buses back from Gloucester – we are in effect under curfew.  Time we shed some light.

You as bus users are the answer – lobby the government for more subsidy not less.

Contact me, Sue Dubois, betterbuses4forest ofdean @gmail.com or 01594 517297.

– Sue Dubois, Newnham.