The Daffodil bus line puts on hourly service
Newent, Ross and Ledbury’s The Daffodil Line defied bus cuts
Grassroots bus service set up two years ago in response to public transport cuts affecting Newent, Ledbury and Ross will be providing an hourly service from today.
The 232 Daffodil Line serves towns and villages which straddle the Gloucestershire and Herefordshire border and it has gone from strength to strength since its launch.
The route, named after the former Ledbury to Gloucester train line which cut across the area arguably known for Britain’s best wild daffodil display, emerged after Stagecoach’s decision to axe the regular 132 service from Gloucester to Ledbury and the stretch of the 32 route from Newent to Ross.
Campaigners banded together and created Buses4Us to try to reverse the downward spiral of public transport in the area.
Clare Stone, who leads Buses4Us, is delighted to announce the introduction of a new hourly service on the 232 Daffodil Line bus from August 11.
This will double the frequency of departures between Ross, Newent and Ledbury Monday to Saturday, retaining the existing Sunday Service.
She said: “The latest service improvement is the culmination of more than three years of teamwork on the part of two county councils, three town councils, five parish councils, dozens of local businesses and community groups and a small army of volunteers.
“Oh and not to forget one special bus company!
“We have been running with a bus every two hours, seven days a week for over two years now.
“This service improved on what we had before the cuts, as it includes Sundays and an evening service on Fridays and Saturdays.
“But for a lot of people and a lot of journeys a bus every two hours doesn’t offer a viable alternative to taking the car.
“Our aim has always been to offer an hourly service. It’s what we had on this route until 2016 and all the research shows that a bus every hour can free many rural residents from private car dependency and all the social, economic and environmental problems that dependency creates.”
Some of their passengers have spoken about how important the bus route is.
Mrs T, from Much Marcle, said: “I and others will feel more inclined to get out of the car and use it, you won’t feel stuck.”
While the Adams family from Ledbury said: “Going hourly is such a cause for celebration, well done to all involved, not even big bus companies can compete with the Daffodil!”
Mr B from Newent said it is useful for his son who works in Ledbury.
“My son works in Ledbury, he’s always been able to get the bus to work in the morning, but the last bus back in the afternoon has been too early, and I’ve had to go and pick him up – no more of that now!”
And a Gorsley resident said: “Getting to college in Gloucester is going to be easy now – no worries about missing the last bus home from Newent”
This latest service improvement is made possible by government Bus Service Improvement Plan funding received via Gloucestershire County Council and Herefordshire Council.
“As with any bus service investment, this funding offers subsidy while the service establishes a passenger base – so if we want this level of service to continue, we all need to get on board and use it, whenever we can. “
The new timetable will be introduced on August 11, and the single fare remains at £2. For full details see daffodilline.co.uk