BUS services to Newent will see a ‘hammering’ from next month, according to a local campaigner.

A lack of passengers using the 32 service (Ross-on-Wye and Newent to Gloucester) means Stagecoach is reducing the amount of buses it provides.

Sue Dubois said: "The unexpected cuts and changes are to nonsubsidised services which are not making profits and are operated without funding support from the county council.

"The changes will

see Newent hammered again with it almost being impossible to reach Hereford."

The changes come in response to feedback received at a meeting in December and take effect from September 4.

Other changes will see the last bus from Gloucester to Lydney (service 23) leave 10 minutes earlier at 6.10pm but extend to Coleford rather than terminating at Lydney. Meanwhile Stagecoach is taking on service 35 from Monmouth to Ross under contract to Gloucestershire County Council.

Sue said: "I have been told by the integrated transport manager at Gloucestershire County Council (Alan Bently) that the changes are not in response to the recent bus survey, which was carried out last month, and affects subsidised services that are supported by the county council. Any changes to those services aren’t expected prior to 2017."

Stagecoach West failed to comment before the Review went to press.

For more information visit www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/

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Among the changes are:

• 23:  Coleford and Lydney to Gloucester

- Minor timetable changes throughout to improve punctuality

- The last bus from Gloucester on Mondays to Saturdays will depart at 6.10pm and extend to Coleford

- 8.03am from Coleford to Gloucester on Saturdays will no longer run

• 24:  Lydbrook and Joy’s Green to Gloucester

- Minor timetable changes throughout to improve punctuality

- Saturday journey at 3.45pm from Joy’s Green to Gloucester will no longer run

• 30/31:  Coleford and Cinderford to Gloucester

- Minor timetable changes throughout to improve punctuality

- 6.05am from Cinderford to Gloucester on Mondays to Fridays will no longer run

• 132:  Ledbury and Newent to Gloucester

- Weekday 6.30am from Gloucester will instead depart at 6.15am and run as far as Newent only

- Weekday 8am from Gloucester will now depart at 7.55am, with extra journey time to Newent

- Weekday 3.20pm from Gloucester and 3.54pm return from Newent will no longer run

- Weekday 7.29am from Ross-on-Wye to Gloucester will no longer run

- Weekday 7.39am from Ledbury will depart at 7.19am instead, arriving in Gloucester at 8.34am

- A new weekday journey will depart Newent for Gloucester at 8.34am

- Monday to Saturday 8.40pm from Ross-on-Wye and 9.40pm return from Gloucester will no longer run

• 33:  Hereford and Ross-on-Wye to Gloucester

- Due to poor patronage, the 5.58am weekday journey from Ross-on-Wye to Longhope will no longer run

• 35:  Ross to Monmouth

- Every two to three hours, Mondays to Saturdays, operated under contract to Gloucestershire County Council