It has been announced that the previously free University of Gloucestershire bus service will now cost 70p a journey. A group on Facebook has been set up protesting against this move, quite rightly so.

70 pence is hardly an expensive charge compared to the £2 charge on London buses. However, as we all know costs soon build up and this will be yet another outgoing. University fees are rising, the terms are becoming shorter and I fail to see where we are getting our value for money from. I believe the University recently injected over a million pounds into a campus in London. Yet last year our main summer ball was cancelled, Space Newspaper will now have fewer additions and now this.

The replacement summer ball was meant to have buses running to Park campus, but this was cancelled 30mins before the event. No buses and so everybody had to get a car or taxi to the event instead. Where exactly are we getting our value for money? What does this say about the University’s Green Policy? Will this charge mean buses will be more reliable this year?

According to the bus timetable there will be no buses travelling between campuses after 7pm. This poses a threat to the safety of University of Gloucestershire students who, will mostly, now have to walk. This seems to have been a careless move by the University of Gloucestershire. We are quite clearly not going to receive our value for money next year and inevitably we will have more incidents as students try to find their way back to campus in the dark.

I say “try” because it will be fresher students who will suffer the most from this idiotic decision by the University. The Student Union has arranged a fantastic array of events for new students to the University in September but the University have removed their support by the cancellation of the bus service after 7pm. How are new students to the area meant to find their way home in the dark? As a shy fresher last year I know how difficult it can be travelling home from an event by yourself, how dangerous Cheltenham can become when intoxicated members of the public leave the clubs.

Due to the University of Gloucestershire’s Green Policy first year students are not allowed to have cars. The University seems to have suggested cycling as a method of transport, except all past students know the risks of theft by bringing a bike on site during the first semester. Is the cancellation of buses after 7pm part of the University’s Green Policy to burn less fuel? To save money? Or has the University allowed Stage Couch to bully them into submission?

Quite clearly we need to see a resolution. Although I have no doubt that this year’s elected Student Union members will be brilliant, this incident with the University buses will be the Student Union’s first real test. Either buses run at the same times and are free as they were last year (at least run at the same times) or the Student Union arrange a place for new students to meet and help them get to Park Campus for events.

Where is Joanna Lumley when we need her?

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