A relatively small change to a bus timetable could mean a massive improvement to the quality of life for many Ross residents, one couple has told the Ross Gazette.

They have lived in Ross since retiring, and have given up driving. They rely on buses to get them to town for shopping and to appointments at the GP surgery or hospital.

When they first moved to Ross they told the Gazette that the service was operated by H and H coaches and it was ideal. There was time between catching a bus into town, and returning, to carry out any local chores, but they could also get one bus into Ross in time for the connecting bus to Hereford or Gloucester.

Unfortunately over time the bus timetable has changed, mainly due to cuts to the service, which means there are two buses operating a route which used to have three. The service has also been taken over by Stagecoach, but they are full of praise for the local drivers. They say the local drivers and managers are sympathetic but cannot do anything about the timetable.

They told the Gazette that the buses to Hereford and Gloucester leave three minutes before the morning buses arrive at Cantilupe Road. Previously the 10.05, the 11.05 and the 11.57 were ideal and these are what they would like restored.

They said that when they needed to get to Gloucester recently they had to take a taxi and passed the bus coming into Ross when they were on the bus taking them out of town.

Another issue is that they do not use the internet. They say they are often told that changes are given out online but this is no help to them.

The couple feel they have exhausted every possible route to getting their concerns resolved. They have a catalogue of letters to and from Stagecoach and they have also appealed to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, but he cannot help. He said:?“There is no provision in the legislation for the Traffic Commissioner to intervene on your behalf.”

They have now come to the Ross Gazette to raise the issue because they know there are other people also affected and they wonder if a public campaign could get anything done.

They are extremely complimentary about the drivers and they would like to use the buses more. They are worried that because it is less convenient less people will use the buses and ‘the powers that be’ will say they no longer needed because of lack of use. They are sure more people would use them if they could restore the previous timetable which gave ample time for connections.