A CLUB for stroke survivors in Cirencester are unhappy that a community bus taking members to and from their weekly meetings will no longer be running.

The bus which was operated by Community Connexions, a Cheltenham-based charity which took over from Cotswold Volunteers when they shut in April, ceased their services for Cirencester Stroke Club on Monday, May 8.

The decision to cut the service was due to the ‘dwindling’ numbers of bus users after prices rose from £2.40 under Cotswold Volunteers to £5 under Community Connexions, and then £10 just before Christmas last year.

Margaret Knapp, organiser at Cirencester Stroke Club which holds meetings every Monday, said: “I’m very upset about it. I think it’s very poor because it’s vulnerable people being targeted.

“They were supposed to be providing a service, they are no longer doing that. We weren’t given any notice. We were just told it had ceased."

A letter dated May 5 notified the club of the decision to cut the bus service, but this was received three days after the date when service ceased.

The letter by Community Connexions stated that the charity would continue to provide transport for special outings but that siting a bus in Cirencester was "no longer operationally or economically viable".

Before Community Connexions made the decision to cut the service, there were just four people using the bus, which has a capacity of eight.

Two of those members are now not able to attend weekly Stroke Club gatherings as they have to be transported on a wheelchair.

Under Cotswold Volunteers, which charged £2.40 per return trip and which closed due to lack of funding and resources, there were two buses taking members to the meeting. Under Community Connexions, there was just one bus due to decreased demand after prices rose.

Speaking of the doubling of bus prices last year, Margaret said: “It was a big leap, a lot of people backed out then, because they could get a taxi, or a spouse or family member could take them.

“One lady likes socialising and she’s not able to do that now. It’s a very friendly club and there’s quite a lot of support to people.”

Community Connexions had asked the club, which currently meets from 9.30am to 12.30pm, to hold their meetings half an hour later but Margaret said this was “not viable” as it would encroach on members’ lunch hour.

The club are now looking for a bus with a wheelchair lift to help transport disabled members to its Monday meetings.

Community Connexions responded to the club’s complaints explaining that due to the “ever dwindling numbers” of passengers, it has become “impossible” for them to continue providing the service in the same way.

Addressing concerns with the short notice given, a spokesperson said: “We have fully explained the whole situation to the club organiser via letter and various telephone conversations.

“We have suggested a long term solution to this dilemma as we would still be able to provide transport for them if they are able to change the club times to half an hour later – we are awaiting their response on this.

“Transport arrangements for outings to Slimbridge and the like are still in place.

“As a ‘not for profit’ charity we have a duty to ensure that our services are sustainable for the sake of all of our service users and that we use our resources responsibly.”