By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
A £8m bus service improvement plan for Gloucestershire has been given the go-ahead by Shire Hall chiefs.
Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) cabinet debated today (March 5) the next phase of an ambitious and transformative Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) for the 2025/26 financial year.
They say the dynamic initiative is set to boost bus usage levels beyond pre-Covid-19 figures through strategic investments and enhancements across the county’s bus network.
The County Council published its second BSIP in June 2024 which they say outlined a bold vision to revitalise and expand the county’s bus services. Supported by funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) for the years 2023/24 and 2024/25.
The plan is overseen by the Enhanced Partnership (EP) Board, which includes representatives from bus operators and GCC as the local transport authority.
Council leader Stephen Davies (C, Hardwicke and Severn) said the cabinet was incredibly excited about the transformative potential of their BSIP plan.
He said it was great news for the county to receive the funding which will enhance the bus network by improving its use. “The capital programme aims to improve the quality of vehicles and information,” he said.
Cllr Davies also said the investment aims to make the environment more attractive and reduce journey times of bus services.
“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,” he said.
GCC is required to submit a detailed BSIP Delivery Plan to the DfT by March 31, 2025.
This plan will outline the investment programme for bus services and infrastructure for the 2025/26 financial year.
Quarterly monitoring reports will ensure transparency and accountability in delivering the outlined improvements.
Key highlights of the BSIP 2025/26:
DfT funding allocation of £8,031,694 made up of:
- £4,175,563 in capital funding
- £3,303,766 in revenue funding
- £458,365 from the Local Authority Bus Service Operators Grant
- £94,000 from the Capacity and Capability Grant
- Enhanced partnership and working groups:
The EP Board, along with a Bus Forum for smaller operators, oversees the BSIP delivery. Working groups focus on Marketing and Information, Multi-operator Ticketing, Improving Infrastructure, and Bus Service Provision.
Significant investments in bus services:
The BSIP outlines several key investments, including:
- Enhancements to town services in Cirencester and the link with Stroud
- Frequency improvements for the Newent area ‘Daffodil’ bus service 232 and the 801 on Sundays
- Extension of the park and ride service from Arle Court to run on a Sunday
- Expansion of the NHS-funded bus service 99 on weekends
- Upgrades to existing GCC-funded contracts and services
- Major capital improvements:
- The plan includes significant capital investments to improve bus service quality and infrastructure, such as:
- Electric Vehicle Retrofits for mid-life diesel buses
- Upgrades to roadside information displays and real-time information systems
- Implementation of tap-on tap-off hardware for multi-operator ticketing
- Audio-visual upgrades for older vehicles
- Bus priority improvements in Cheltenham and Gloucester
- Vibrant promotion and awareness campaigns:
- The County Council will launch public transport promotional campaigns, develop a digital bus service network map, and design new roadside displays to encourage more passengers to use bus services.