BUS users in the Cotswolds and across Gloucestershire are being given the chance to have their say on how services are run.

Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet is due to vote on a consultation on changes to the county’s bus services at a meeting next Wednesday, July 22.

The authority is looking into how the services which run without a council subsidy could operate more effectively in more populated areas of the county while examining if rural areas may be better served by publicly-funded buses.

It is also looking into how it pays for discretionary parts of the concessionary fares scheme, which provides free bus travel between 9.30am and 11pm on Mondays to Fridays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays to older people and qualifying disabled people. The scheme currently costs the taxpayer £6.7 million a year.

Cabinet member with responsibility for transport Cllr Will Windsor Clive said it was important the council made the best use of its funds in the face of falling budgets.

“We know people rely on public transport to get to essential services and we’re keen to hear what they think about how we can concentrate our funds on delivering what’s really needed,” he said.

“I realise that any review of services can be difficult, however this is something we have to do.

“If cabinet agree this consultation, I would urge anyone who is interested to take the time to tell us what they think, share their ideas and encourage their friends and family to do the same.

“We genuinely want to work with communities to develop proposals that work for everyone.”

When the council last reviewed bus services in 2011 it found some journeys were costing the taxpayer as much as £76 for a return.

Since then it has been able to cut subsidies by 40 per cent with little difference to services.

If the consultation gets the go-ahead it is expected to start at the beginning of August and run until the end of September. A report will be presented back to the council’s cabinet later in the autumn.