Rural bus routes axed as flexi service expanded
Gloucestershire County CouncilNine rural bus routes are being axed and replaced by a bookable bus service.
Gloucestershire County Council said some heavily subsidised routes across parts of the Forest of Dean and Cotswolds are being scrapped after experiencing low passenger demand and high costs. Services including the 832, 656 and 790, will finish at the end of November.
But to compensate for the loss, The Robin, a flexible on-demand booking transport, will be available to people in a number of new areas from 1 November.
Councillor Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainable transport and road safety, said the council needed to look at "different ways of keeping communities connected".
The nine services which will end on 28 November are:
- 23a/35a between Cinderford and Blakeney/Monmouth
- 632 between Tillers Green and Newent
- 656 between Dumbleton and Bishops Cleeve
- 679 between Newent and Ledbury
- 693 between Highleadon and Newent
- 701 between St Briavels and Coleford
- 777 between Lydney and Milkwall
- 790 between Newnham and Cinderford
- 832 between Cold Aston and Andoversford
But before the routes are axed, The Robin service will be expanded to people living in Frampton on Severn, Monmouth, Cinderford, Mickleton and Birdlip.
Unlike a traditional bus service that follows a fixed route, The Robin provides flexible transport which people can book in advance via an app, call centre or website.
Whyborn 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 "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," he added.
"The expanded Robin service will provide an alternative in the affected areas while helping us make the best use of the funding available."
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