£8m boost to bus network given the go-ahead

An £8m plan to improve bus services across Gloucestershire has been given the green light.

It includes improving bus links between Stroud and Cirencester, expanding the NHS-funded 99 bus service on a Sunday and developing a digital bus service map.

Gloucestershire County Council's cabinet approved the plan at a meeting on Thursday.

Councillor Stephen Davies, the council's leader, said the investment aims to make the environment more attractive and reduce journey times of bus services.

Upgrades to real-time information displays and diesel buses at the middle of their lives will be retrofitted with electric vehicle technology, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The council said it wants to boost the number of people using buses around the county beyond figures from before the pandemic after a drop in numbers.

Mr Davies said in the meeting: "This ambitious plan will not only enhance the quality and reliability of bus services across Gloucestershire but also encourage more residents to choose public transport, contributing to a greener and more connected county."

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