On demand bus service to expand in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire County Council’s Robin on demand bus service is to expand to Newent.

The service currently operates in five areas, the south Forest of Dean, north and south Cotswolds, Berkeley Vale and parts of the Tewkesbury district.

Reaction from the public to The Robin has been overwhelmingly positive, according to the council, with many praising the huge increase in transport options. Usage of the services has grown over time, with nearly 6,500 trips made in the five Robin areas in November and December 2024 – there were 3,371 trips made in November and 3,092 in December.

The existing services have been funded by the DfT and the latest service will be funded by the county council.

It is anticipated the new Robin service in Newent will be launched in April 2025 and a procurement process will now take place to secure a contract.

The subsidised public transport network in the county is made up of approximately 115 contracts for services with an annual value of £7million, which is a significant increase since 2019/20 when the spend was £3.7million.

“We are committed to making improvements to the whole public transport network across the county” – Cllr Stephen Davies, leader of Gloucestershire County Council

Cllr Stephen Davies, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “I’m thrilled we’re able make this investment to see The Robin expand into another new area. It will help meet the needs of residents in Newent and the surrounding area, boosting rural connectivity and expanding the Robin service to now cover the vast majority of rural Gloucestershire.

“We are committed to making improvements to the whole public transport network across the county and will continue to work closely with bus operators to ensure customers are encouraged to use modern, reliable and affordable services.”