IF you get on a 23 or 24 bus these days you may not arrive at your destination on time or at all.

I’ve received over 30 bus users’ reports of breakdowns and issues over last few months.

From students and workers waiting for no show buses, very elderly ladies being left without buses home, buses that start smoking from the back, buses that catch light, buses with parts not functioning, buses delaying passengers on the side of cold roads for over an hour,  drivers getting lost and alarm systems not working.

On February 15 at a full council meeting at Glou­cestershire County Council at Shire Hall, Cllr Richard Leppington kind­ly put our question regarding the unacceptable amount of breakdowns on Stagecoach buses 23 and 24.

I have been lobbying various cross-party councillors in order to take this issue to the politicians and decision makers.

It has been put forward that there will be a meeting that includes county council officers, Stagecoach senior managers, district and county councillors and myself, representing bus users, soon.

Stagecoach do not record every breakdown – if your bus has a mechanical failure and it has to stop, but a mechanic or the driver can get it running again and you continue your journey, they do not count this.

Stagecoach run thousands of journeys every month and provide an excellent service on most routes.

Gloucestershire County Council’s integrated trans­port unit sent their own mechanics out to the Stagecoach depot to inspect three weeks ago and all was rated fine.

It is not the mechanics, drivers or staff – it’s the clapped out stock we have got.

However even though we received some hand-me-down “gold” buses, perhaps Stagecoach managing director Rupert Cox really needs to look at more investment in better stock and buses that do not worry people as to whether they will burst into flames.

I need your help with evidence of the amount of these breakdowns.

Please report them to Stagecoach’s James Williams at Clarence Street, Gloucester and/or tell me  01594 517297 or e-mail betterbuses4forest

– Sue Dubois, Newnham.