Your Say on Bus Services
6th October 2015
Public invited to help shape the future of council funded public transport in Gloucestershire
Following a public transport survey, Gloucestershire County Council wants to hear from the public on proposed changes to council funded public transport in the county.There were over 1,300 responses to the survey earlier this year. Almost a quarter stated that existing buses didn’t meet their needs. The response to the survey has now been used to inform proposed changes that could be made.
The county council needs to ensure that subsidised bus services are reaching people who need them, are not duplicating commercial services and are busy enough to guarantee long term sustainability.
Proposals suggested include changes to Park & Ride arrangements and concessionary fare investment, better connections with existing services, provision of community transport solutions, such as dial-a-ride or voluntary car schemes, and making better use of commercial bus services.
The consultation will be open from 6th October 2015 until 4th January 2016
Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said; “This is an opportunity for people to have a say in how we invest in council funded public transport and to let us know how any changes will affect them.“It’s no secret that budgets are stretched so we have to make sure that the services we provide are the right ones. “We know people rely on public transport to get to essential services and we’re keen to hear what they think about how we can concentrate our funds on delivering what’s really needed.”
The majority of bus transport in Gloucestershire is provided by commercial services. But around 10% of bus journeys or 1.8m annual passenger trips are subsidised by the county council at a cost of £2m per year.
For more information and to take part in the survey visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/fundedtransport
Further details will be also be available at libraries across the county from 12th October or on bus services impacted by the proposals, and a series of public events will also take place:
19th October 10am to 6pm, Cirencester Waitrose
21st October 10am to6pm, Gloucester Asda
6th November 10am to 6pm, Cinderford Co-op
10th November 10am to 6pm, Stroud Tesco