Passenger Transport Update – 7 August 2017
1. Changes to mainly Commercially provided bus services. There will be a range of changes to commercial and other networks provided by Stagecoach and others across the county in August and September..
Cheltenham area changes from 14th August 2017
F – decision by Stagecoach to withdraw the section of their commercial service between the town centre and Gloucestershire Airport. We have worked out that while the number of passengers affected is fairly small, many of these are learning disabled people attending the Butterfly Garden which operates near Bamfurlong village. In addition some workers at the Airport will be affected, as will some other local users. We are looking at low cost options to help the affected communities but will need to manage expectations carefully.
D/E – decision by Stagecoach to re-route a short section of this service in Bishops Cleeve – this impacts people in sheltered housing on Cheltenham Road so we are seeing whether plans to re-route the T service to take users into Bishops Cleeve centre – where they may link with services to Cheltenham - will be adequate. The service is also being taken away from a road in Hatherley where we are looking at re routing a nearby service to help out.
T – the Tewkesbury – Bishops Cleeve service is out to tender and may be operated by a new provider from September along much the same route as present, with some minor changes..
B/H – one or two buses are being withdrawn where they carry few if any passengers, however there are still peak and off peak services.
99 – this service, commissioned by the NHS for hospital workers, is changing from 14/8/17 and will be operated by Pulhams from the Cheltenham town centre and hospital only through to Gloucester via the Arle Court P&R and GRH. Former users boarding at the Racecourse P&R may change in the town centre.
511 – The Arle Court Park and Ride will now stop close to the railway station on Lansdown Road to serve passengers affected by the west of Cheltenham parking changes.
Gloucester, Stroud and the Forest
33 – change of route at Boxbush. Stagecoach have decided to re-route their commercial service bus between Ross and Gloucester via Longhope on the way through to Gloucester, impacting on small communities at Boxbush, Hopewood Park, and May Hill. While the numbers affected are relatively small the parish council and local member are making representations about the impact on schoolchildren travelling to John Kyrle High School in Ross and Kings and grammar schools in Gloucester, as well as older people who have lost access to a regular bus service. We are examining options around getting children to pick locations on existing routes and adjusting the once a week community transport provision to run along the A40.
24 – the withdrawal of off peak commercials journeys between Ruardean, Lydbrook and Gloucester will necessitate passengers taking a local bus into Cinderford to change for Gloucester.
6/13 – (Gloucester/Longlevens/GRH and Gloucester – Abbeydale). These services will lose a poorly used last journey of the day.
69/620 – Stagecoach are introducing a through service between Stroud, Tetbury and Bath resulting in the withdrawal of the 27 service (which would broadly duplicate the new service).
60/62 – Some subtle re-timings should benefit schoolchildren attending KLB at Wotton.
626 - South Gloucestershire Council are reviewing the running of this service between Wotton and Yate
2. Community Transport review and Forum
We are planning a county wide Forum for Community Transport users and operators in the late autumn. Meanwhile we are carrying out a detailed review of their operation with a view to ensuring their resilience and effectiveness.