Some services to Gloucester ‘too expensive’ to run?

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THERE are fears further cuts to Forest bus services could leave users with hardly any transport at evenings and weekends.

Gloucestershire Coun­ty Council says dwindling numbers of pas-

sengers using certain services to Gloucester results in a subsidy of over £15 per return trip, well above the subsidy cap of £8. Almost nine out of 10 buses running across Gloucestershire are run without subsidy from the council, amounting to around £1.4 million during 2016/17.

An in-bus survey is being carried out to garner public opinion on the economy options being considered. 

The main routes affected are 30/31 Glou­cester-Cinderford-Cole­-

ford, 23 Gloucester-Lydney-Coleford and 24 Gloucester-Mitchel­dean-Joy’s Green.

Bus users are being given three options to choose from:

•Remove late evening services

•Remove Sunday services

•Only run late evening services (after 8pm) on Fridays and Saturdays, and a reduced service on Sundays.

Bus campaigner Sue Dubois, of BetterBuses4ForestofDean, said: “Another bus survey from Gloucestershire County Council will surely bring more bus cuts to the Forest. 

“The survey will mainly [consider those who use the] affected Sunday or evening services. Some of these runs are very underused and therefore are not profitable. Costs have been scrutinised and there isn’t enough subsidy to keep many local services going.

“An earlier publicised promise of a circular evening bus is now doubtful. Bus routes 23/24/30/31 were going to unite to give back the 23’s axed evening service.

“People are becoming more isolated in rural areas. Some daytime ‘hopper buses’ around the towns are being looked at especially in the Coleford, Cinderford, Mitcheldean, New­ent areas. It is very much a case of use or lose it.

“The loss of the 23 evening service Coleford to Gloucester plus the changed last bus time to 6.20pm from Gloucester has meant loss of jobs, college late attendance, loss of access to leisure and retail outlets.

“In some cases people with late hospital appointments have had to pay for taxis back to homes on the A48. The service changes will start in October or earlier.” 

In an email to Sue, Denise Faber at Glou­ces­tershire County Council, said: “In addition, [to the survey] there are some changes to other services in the Forest of Dean area which, further to the public consultation last year, Cabinet approved in February. We are in the process of looking at how these changes can be delivered and will be in touch in due course to provide you more details on these.”

To complete a survey call Sue on 01594 517297 or visit www. gloucestershire.gov.uk/bussurvey by July 22.