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Changes made to bus routes thanks to petition

Daisy BodkinBBC Gloucestershire
Stagecoach A photo of a blue and white Stagecoach bus at a stop.Stagecoach
Residents have successfully campaigned to change their local bus services

A petition signed by almost 800 people has led to Stagecoach changing its bus services.

Complaints had been made about the frequency and punctuality of the 97 and 98 bus services which run between Gloucester and Cheltenham.

Changes were made to the route in 2025 but Stagecoach has responded to feedback by returning the services to how they were previously.

Managing Director of Stagecoach West Chris Hanson said the changes would deliver "faster, more reliable journeys".

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Residents in Churchdown and Longlevens said the bus services were having a particular impact on students trying to get to school in the mornings with some parents saying the buses were making their children late.

In response to complaints, a petition was set up in February by councillors Stewart Dove and Sarah Hands who said reliable bus services were "essential for getting people to work, school and appointments".

The councillors said they were pleased that people had been listened to.

They said the changes would "make a real difference".

Sarah Hands Sarah Hands is pictured in a head and shoulders shot. She has long, dark hair and she is smiling widely. She is wearing glasses and a floral top and she is standing in a field with bushes in the background.Sarah Hands
Councillor Sarah Hands helped set up a petition to improve the bus services

Stagecoach made major changes to a number of routes across Gloucestershire in September 2025.

From 31 May, the 97 and 98 bus services will return to their previous routes between Churchdown and Cheltenham, a move which is expected to boost punctuality and reliability.

Frequency between Gloucester, Churchdown and Cheltenham will also be adjusted with buses expected to operate every 30 minutes.

Several morning peak journeys have also been changed to increase capacity for students travelling to Chosen Hill School.

Hanson said Stagecoach was "pleased to be making improvements".

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