Third Sector Services

The service has been running for more than a year and has seen passenger figures rise dramatically during that time. Now more than 1,000 people use the bus to get to Cheltenham General Hospital, Sainsbury’s supermarket on Hales Road and into the town centre. In a recent passenger survey one response said passengers called it “the happy bus”. The success of the service has been acknowledged by the Department for Transport as an exemplar of national good practice.

This area of our work is likely to increase following Gloucestershire County Council’s Bus Network Review which highlights community transport as a flexible transport alternative to get people to essential services.

Download a copy of the “V” service timetable and route map V-BusTimetable .

Who can use the service?

If you live in the Cheltenham, Tewkesbury or Gloucester areas, including outlying villages near these towns or cities you may be eligible to use our service.

We transport the elderly or frail, those with a permanent or temporary disability, people who need to use a wheelchair and those at risk of becoming rurally isolated through lack of available public transport. Our support for passengers living in rural communities has been recognised nationally. In 2009 we were runners-up in the Community Transport Association’s Rural Transport Operator of the Year awards.

If you are unsure about whether you’d be eligible to use our service please give one of our offices a ring and have a chat to the local transport co-ordinator.

How much will it cost?

You have to register to use our service which costs £10 a year. After that you will have to pay a small amount for each journey depending on how far you are travelling.

Community transport is considerably cheaper than using a commercial taxi.

• A weekday journey from Prestbury to Up Hatherley would cost £3.30 one way with community transport, compared to around £9.00 with a commercial taxi company.
• A trip from Quedgeley to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital would cost £2.80 with community transport, compared to around £12.00 with a commercial taxi firm.
• A journey from Bishop’s Cleeve to Tewkesbury Hospital would cost £4.80 one way with community transport, compared to £12.00 with a commercial taxi.

We are often used for small local trips but increasingly many of our passengers are relying upon us to take them on holiday or to visit relatives in other parts of the country. Let us know and we’ll give you a competitive quote for a longer journey.

Contact us

For the opportunity to access community transport and enjoy the personal benefits that it brings, contact a member of our transport team and join our Connecting Communities scheme.