CONCERNS have been raised as planned improvements by the town's main bus provider have been delayed. 

Gloucestershire County Council was awarded nearly £4.5 million by the Department of Transport over two years as part of a scheme to make improvements on bus services across the county. 

These improvements - which have already been announced in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and the Forest of Dean - were set to be made to services across Stroud but due to a reduction in drivers, these are now going to be delayed. 

Figures from across the area have expressed their concerns that Stroud has missed out on these improvements , with one saying that the town is 'always bottom of the pile'. 

Tricia Watson, Green district councillor for Chalford, said: “In a rural area where thousands of people rely on the bus for work, medical appointments and social connections, the timetable was slashed by up to 60 per cent last year, without any consultation, in Chalford. 

"A shortage of drivers is blamed, yet enough drivers have been found to service other routes in Gloucestershire.

"Once again Stroud is bottom of the pile.”

Dr Simon Opher, Labour's candidate for the constituency, said: "I was dismayed to see further delays to the improvements for bus services for Stroud.

"While I welcome the extra investment in buses in Gloucestershire, most of this seems to have gone to Tewkesbury and the Forest of Dean, with almost no improvements at all in Stroud.

"Our area in crying out for better services."

Tony Davey, chair of Stroud Chamber of Trade said: "Bus users will likely already be aware of the continued problems brought about by the local staffing issues at Stagecoach at its Stroud depot.

"It is regrettable that the churn at this depot continues to impact the level of services they provide, including the commitments to meet these new measures that are awaited by many.

"Members of our communities rely on a reliable and fit-for-purpose bus service, the lack of which regularly comes up in meetings we attend across the Stroud district."

John Bloxsom, GCC councillor for Rodborough (Labour), said: "It's very disappointing to hear that the Stroud area is being left behind with promised bus service improvements being delayed.

"It's now six months since the intention to introduce them was announced."

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council said: “We are disappointed that bus improvements have been delayed but understand the staffing concerns raised by Stagecoach.

“We are communicating regularly with Stagecoach and remain completely committed to delivering the improvements in the Stroud area as soon as possible."

Elisabeth Tasker, interim managing director at Stagecoach West said: “Prior to the introduction of any service uplift or improvement we must be certain we have the staffing resource to deliver, both now and in the future, but not to the detriment of other services in the region.

“We are actively recruiting in Stroud and across Gloucestershire with several shift patterns available for new drivers, alongside excellent benefits.

"We have also made improvements to our Driver Academy so we can continue to offer the very best training and support to new drivers and retain this talent for the future.

“We will continue to remain transparent with Gloucestershire County Council, actively communicating when we are in a position to successfully make the enhancements to evening and weekend services as we both hope.”