Stagecoach bus route from Herefordshire town set to be axed

Stagecoach said it was cutting the 132 route between Ledbury and Newent due to a drop in passenger numbers, with services running at a loss.

Newent's Liberal Democrats county councillor Gill Moseley said it was devastating news, with a little over a month's notice seemed "totally unfair".

And she warned that people living north of the Forest of Dean town, particularly those in Dymock, could be "left high and dry".

As well as buses between the two towns being axed from February 27, other changes to Stagecoach routes will also affect Ross-on-Wye.

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Stagecoach said that due to poor patronage, the 5.45am bus from Ross-on-Wye to Gloucester will cut, while the next bus at 7.15am will run slightly earlier and continue through Gloucester to St Peter's School, returning at 3.45pm

A new 5.45am bus would run from Gloucester to Ross-on-Wye, the firm said, while the last bus from Hereford will go beyond Ross-on-Wye to Gloucester.

But as for the 132, Stagecoach said: "The Covid pandemic has significantly reduced the number of people using these routes, with buses north and west of Newent running at a loss.

"As a result, we'll no longer be running between Newent and Ledbury, and continuing only a school and shopper link between Newent and Ross-on-Wye.

"Buses between Newent and Gloucester will still run hourly as 32, with a slightly revised timetable."

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Coun Moseley said: "This is devastating news both for the regular and occasional users of these routes but Stagecoach states that the number of passengers is 60 per cent down on pre-Covid figures and the service is unviable.

"I have written to both the operations director at Stagecoach and to the head of services and the portfolio holder at Gloucestershire County Council.

"A subsidised service or alternative provision of some sort ought to be examined.

"Not only will Newent residents be unable to access the area north of our town by public transport, but people who live in Dymock and in the surrounding rural areas between here and Ledbury will be left high and dry.

"The service to Ross is very limited.

"The notice of little more than a month seems totally unfair and I have raised the question of consultation.

"So far, there have been no replies from Stagecoach and officers but I hope to post any useful responses here [on her Facebook page] ASAP."

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