More than 750 residents have signed a petition calling for urgent improvements to the 97 and 98 bus services that connect Churchdown and Innsworth with Cheltenham and Gloucester. The petition, which demands that the operator Stagecoach West conduct a full review of the service, was formally presented at Gloucestershire County Council headquarters at Shire Hall on 25 March 2026.
The campaign was initiated by Gloucestershire County Councillor Stewart Dove and Tewkesbury Borough Councillor Sarah Hands. Residents are seeking action following route changes made in September 2025, which were implemented without prior community consultation. These changes, which saw the 97 and 98 services rerouted within Hatherley to replace the former D service, have significantly lengthened journey times for local commuters.
Councillor Paul Hodgkinson has also publicly supported the calls for better public transport links between the two towns. The petition highlights growing frustration among travellers who are dealing with daily inconvenience and unreliability on the route, which remains a key link for those travelling to the Cheltenham Spa railway station.
While the petition seeks immediate improvements to the existing service, Gloucestershire County Council is concurrently developing long-term plans for a rapid bus transit system to link the two areas with a service running every ten minutes. In November 2025, the council approved £1.25 million in funding to begin drafting a business case for the project. Additionally, Stagecoach West is in the process of rolling out a new fleet of 42 electric buses across the region as part of a £20 million investment, with the first of these vehicles entering service in early 2026.
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