The object of this public consultation exercise is to canvass views as widely as possible over emerging proposals for a Community Bus service in Tetbury.  

These proposals are presented in the context of government reforms making it easier for local areas to benefit from the proceeds of growth.  This includes the scrapping of top down initiatives and greater incentives to local partnerships to encourage collaboration in the provision of local community needs including infrastructure.

The emerging proposals are linked with development of approximately 250 homes on the Highfield Farm site to the north of the town to meet the district’s emerging growth requirements. 

Proposals for a service every 30 minutes have been prepared using a defined route around the Tetbury area. (See Illustrative Scheme & Commentary below).  The emerging plans aim to :-

Increase the use of public transport by residents, workers, shoppers and other visitors to the local area;

Improve access to Tetbury Hospital. Possibly reduce their parking requirements and enable land to be freed up for longer term expansion;

Reduce car parking congestion in the town centre of Tetbury.

Dependant on the final level of S106 contribution involved it is likely that the Highfield Farm planning obligations package could see funding of both the existing community bus initiative and the Dolphins Hall replacement proposals. 

These and other draft S106 options are outlined on our associated website http://www.hfdevelopment.co.uk/default.html                                               

In this new era of ‘localism’ in community planning we wondered whether you had any views on this proposal?

Yourfeedback/comments could relate to any aspect of the scheme or other considerations including :-

Is it necessary to have a community bus?

Would the service address existing parking problems both in the town centre and at the hospital?

Does the route proposed need to be amended to address local needs?

Do you consider that Tetbury should have a community bus or should funding be directed to alternative infrastructure needs such as improved healthcare provision in the centre of the settlement?

All feedback on the proposals and the community consultation will be discussed with Tetbury Town Council and Tetbury Upton Parish Council.  

Dependant on the feedback from this consultation exercise it is intended to involve representatives of Cotswold District Council in further dialogue over the precise nature of the community bus scheme and its funding including opportunities to accommodate the needs of elderly groups.

We would also discuss opportunities to put the proposals into a S106 Contributions Plan so that other developers can contribute to the scheme.  In this way the long term future would be assured.