THE popular Robin bus service will expand its coverage next month, offering transport to more communities.

It comes at a time when some services are due to end. Gloucestershire County Council said a number of heavily subsidised bus services that experienced consistently low passenger demand and high costs per passenger will end from Saturday, November 28.

Services that will be affected include 23a/35a between Cinderford and Blakeney/Monmouth, 632 between Tillers Green and Newent, 679 between Newent and Ledbury, 693 between Highleadon and Newent, 701 between St Briavels and Coleford, 777 between Lydney and Milkwall, and the 790 between Newnham and Cinderford.

For affected communities, The Robin will provide an alternative alongside existing bus services. The service already operates in the Cinderford, Lydney and Newent areas, while coverage for the Mitcheldean and Monmouth area will be available from November.

Cllr Roger Whyborn, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport and Road Safety, said: “The expansion of The Robin is good news for communities across Gloucestershire, giving more people access to flexible public transport that they can book around the journeys they want to make, when they want to make them.

“We understand that changes to existing bus services may be disappointing for some passengers. Where services have consistently seen low passenger numbers and high costs, we need to look at different ways of keeping communities connected.

“The expanded Robin service will provide an alternative in the affected areas while helping us make the best use of the funding available.”

The county council said the expansion forms part of its commitment to supporting better public transport while focusing funding on services that are sustainable, flexible and provide value for money.

You can find more information about The Robin and its services by visiting the council’s website. For the full list of areas covered by The Robin, navigate to the ‘Where can I travel?’ page.