WITH reference to Stagecoach's new bus route, in my role as Better Buses Campaigner I met with Alan Barrett, urban transport manager at Gloucestershire County Council on February 24. We discussed the county's role regarding possible bus cuts, community transport roles, consultation with the public and the unacceptable frequency of broken down buses.
Broken down buses cause passengers to miss their job shifts, miss hospital appointments, funerals and train journeys.
The passengers are united in stoic affirmation that although we are glad we still have a service, the service is substandard and also not fair on the drivers. I congratulate the drivers who picketed Berry Hill Depot on March 18 about their pay deal.
On behalf of beleaguered bus users in the Dean I asked Mr Barrett to be our representative from Shire Hall and talk to the management of Stagecoach.
Mr Barrett said: "The county's transport budget has to be reduced from approximately £4 million to £2 million by 2014. We will continue to meet targets regarding essential services – including work, education, health and essential shopping. I will be consulting with the public in all areas to identify a range of options regarding local transport.
"It has been registered, for instance, that the route 73 along the A48 Lydney to Gloucester will merge with the route 71 forming a new service route 23. This will not affect the existing 73 journey route."
Mr Barrett also said that he recognised that where commercial bus companies provided services they needed to provide reliable and to standard buses.
Mr Barrett has already brought up the concerns voiced by passengers using the 73 route and other Forest routes. (I would remind everyone that the Government has no statutory duty to provide transport services; tenders are made by commercially and privately run organisations).
I spoke to a Stagecoach spokesperson who said that the county will be having 25 new buses added to the fleet.
There will be a "cascade" of stock from the routes that get a new bus. It is hoped that some routes will therefore see improvements.
When I spoke with Louise Curry (Lydney) and Lyn Mayo (Newent) Dial A Ride Community Transport they confirmed that they have, or will be tendering under Section 22 of their constitution, to run 16 seater minibuses for passenger services. Their grant has been cut by 30 per cent over three years.
Lyn confirmed they are already running a bus service from Newent. Louise said that because of their grant cuts Dial A Ride will be looking at all options in order to make money and continue offering their excellent service.
Cutting organisations' funding like this does not add up to joined up thinking.
We want better bus services in the Forest of Dean. The fares are going up again soon. I do not believe that more money should be given to town rather than country.
Sue Dubois
Newnham-on-Severn