THE new timetables from March 30 are up on http://www.stagecoachbus">www.stagecoachbus. com, click on Forest of Dean service changes.

Stagecoach assure me that evaluations were carried out over many months and peak periods not just winter.

Gloucestershire County Council also has to carry out its own evaluation now regarding route 24 and whether there's a need for a later bus than 5.40pm on the 23 route from Gloucester.

This last service will terminate at Lydney, not Coleford. How will you get home?

Call Gloucestershire County Council if you are affected by these two major changes and ask for Alan Barrett, urban transport manager. Ask to add your name to list of people adversely affected. Call me for the Forest Council contact.

Over £70,000 funding has been awarded to Gloucestershire community and voluntary car schemes. How much of this will come into Forest I am asking?

Some 250,000 journeys are made annually using such schemes and 65 per cent is allocated to Dial-a-Rides and similar organisations.

This funding might be a plug-that-gap move, Dial-a-Ride runs a circular bus through Lydbrook and other areas.

Regarding hospital trans­port. To get to Glou­cester Royal. I hear that a Forest contractor will be bidding to make your rides easier.

The Forest of Dean District Council has employed a new Community Transport officer with generous funding for five years. Part of her brief is to publicise the Forest Community Transport Partnership. (Dial-a Rides, Newent/Lydney and the Bream and Lydbrook schemes).

There's a new community transport enquiry line at Gloucestershire Coun­ty Council on 01452 426060.

It may be that community transport may wish to plug gaps left by commercial companies. Tendering for contracts starts soon.

However although they are well funded they will charge. Check when they accept passes.

The new Scania buses will still operate in Wye and Dean and concessionary passes are still safe.

Stagecoach and other bus services are commercial businesses mostly without subsidy from government.

More than 85 per cent of all bus services in the county (16 million annually) are not subsidised.

If you want your voice heard, lobby your local councillor or the MP.

The government appears to think we still travel by 'orse n cart not combustion engines.

Contact me for more information on 01594 517297.

– Sue Dubois, Better Buses for the Dean.