Month-long bus driver strike could affect racegoers at Cheltenham Festival

Union members have voted to launch industrial action, which is expected to start days before the festival begins

Horse racing
Author: Olivia MounsorPublished 24th Feb 2022

We're being warned of bus disruptions during Cheltenham Festival - as hundreds of bus drivers in Gloucestershire are set to stage a walk out over pay. Members of the union Unite, who are employed by Stagecoach West will launch industrial action from the 10th March, which is just days before the Festival is set to begin. Unite says it's pressing for a pay increase which is inline with the current inflation rate of 7.8%

Unite's regional officer Shavaun Hunt says "our members are taking strike action as a last resort because Stagecoach has refused to listen. Industrial action will inevitably cause severe disruption to passengers throughout Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and especially during the Cheltenham Festival.

Previously, Stagecoach West said Unite should "work constructively" to find a solution.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.