Buses are back! I am delighted that the Government has stepped in with funding to boost Gloucestershire’s bus services, including bringing back the F route from the west of town into the town centre.
It’s all part of a package of £4m of funding for 21 bus services across Gloucestershire to support a two-year contract.
Buses are a lifeline here in Cheltenham, for children travelling to school, residents commuting to work, or those accessing Cheltenham General.
Bus usage in Cheltenham remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels, and the commercial bus market has shrunk as a result. But for many people there is no easy alternative.
Following Stagecoach’s decision to withdraw Service F, and with the new Service L not covering Rowanfield and St Mark’s, there has been a gap in local provision. This is something I have been raising with the local authorities here in Gloucestershire and also with ministers in Westminster.
Now, from this week a new hourly bus service, Service R, will connect St Paul’s, Rowanfield and wider west Cheltenham areas with Cheltenham town centre.
Service R will be run by Pulhams and will link Bishops Cleeve and St Mark’s with employment and education sites to the West of Cheltenham, such as Gallagher Retail Park, Coronation Square, Pate’s and Gloucestershire College.
In a further boost to Cheltonians, the route will be part of the Government’s £2 fare cap scheme to help towards the cost of living and encourage more people to travel by bus.
Pulhams are a proud local company that were founded in 1880 and began their first weekly direct service from Cheltenham to Bourton in 1885. I am so pleased that they continue to go from strength to strength.
My thanks go to everyone who supported the campaign for these services, and to Gloucestershire County Council for helping to deliver them.