COMMUTERS in Dursley had a chance to speak directly to bus managers and voice their concerns about services in the area. 

Nearly 50 people attended a meeting run by Cam and Dursley Transportation Group held at St James Parish Church on Saturday, August 6.

Ruth Geliamassi managing director of Stagecoach West and Mark Rosaman commercial manager spoke with commuters about the continued cancellations and delays.

Concerns were raised about the lack of connections at the May Lane bus station and the almost total withdrawal of buses to the Cam and Dursley railway station. 

Also raised at the meeting were how cancellations are often shared via Twitter or the Stagecoach app - even though many bus users do not have smartphones to access this vital information.

Cam and Dursley Transportation Group chair Wendy Thomas said: “This was a difficult session at times as the service provision from Stagecoach has been very poor over the last year and residents are justifiably fed up. 

“The number of people including children and older residents being stranded is shocking and the impact this has on people’s jobs and education is serious. 

“We will continue to press Stagecoach and monitor their promised improvements.” 

Ms Thomas is also a Gloucestershire county councillor for Dursley. 

Stagecoach explained how a recent recruitment drive will lead to significant improvements by the end of September. 

The bus service also promised to consider the issues raised and to come back to the Cam and Dursley Transportation Group with responses to those questions that could not be answered on the day. 

Several months ago Stagecoach West drivers members of the Unite union had previously voted to strike for four weeks in March following a dispute over pay.

But a new pay agreement which covered 380 employees at depots in Stroud, Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Swindon and Coalway meant that strike action was cancelled. 

There were also a series of severe cancellations in February this year which was blamed due to national driver shortages.