DISAPPOINTED commuters have raised concerns over changes to bus services across the Five Valleys.

Stagecoach has confirmed that a total of 19 bus routes have been tweaked in the area and the changes are effective as of Sunday, November 2.

The new route 64 will partially replace the services 26 and 20, and will operate up to every hour from Gloucester Road and Horsemarling Lane in Stonehouse to France Lynch via Cainscross Road.

Eastcombe will be cut completely from the new route along with Brantwood Road. However on school days selected journeys will serve Thomas Keble School.

Esther Martin 65, of Eastcombe, who suffers from emphysema believes that cutting off those who live in the small village of Eastcombe from the bus service 26 will cut “the lifeline for many elderly people.”

Ms Martin claims she will no longer be able to use the bus service since her illness prevents her from walking long distances.

“If the bus stops are removed then the next closest stop for me would be half a mile away,” she added.

“A lot of people come from Bussage and Brownshill, they all come to our local shop. The elderly people will lose transport and the shop will lose business.”

A spokesman for Neil Carmichael confirmed that he is in touch with Stagecoach after being made aware of the reduced bus services.

Pensioner Juliet Shipman, of Eastcombe who also uses the bus service 26, said: “I use the bus to get into Stroud and to the doctor’s surgery. It is a vital link for me.

“Removing the bus route from Eastcombe altogether will mean I will have to walk half a mile to Dr Crouch’s Road,” she added.

“I would seriously struggle if I had to do this journey with bags of shopping.”

A spokesman for Stagecoach confirmed that no consultation has been made with residents as the decision to change bus routes was to balance costs and to serve areas which needed a bus service.