I am delighted to hear that because of funding from the Department for Transport, which I lead as Secretary of State, several Stagecoach services operating between Gloucester and the Forest of Dean are set to be expanded.
Last year, Gloucestershire County Council was awarded over £4.4 million from my Department via the Bus Service Improvement Plan Plus to improve local services over the next two years.
The County Council have now confirmed that they will be using sections of this funding to extend the 24 Gloucester to Cinderford service to Coleford and Monmouth on Sundays and will be providing later journeys on weekday evenings on the 32 Gloucester to Newent service.
These improvements will support the evening and weekend economy, allowing residents to spend longer in city and town centres, knowing they will have a bus to take them home.
The County Council will also be using their section of the funding to expand the on-demand rural minibus service ‘The Robin’. This service has been operating in the southern part of the Forest of Dean since its launch last year and has been doing an amazing job at improving connections between areas which often have infrequent or no fixed bus routes available.