VILLAGERS are urging Stagecoach to bring back the S2 to Minster Lovell, saying they are struggling to make hospital appointments in Oxford.

The bus company removed the village centre stop from the route to improve reliability as part of changes to its West Oxfordshire services.

Its new S7 service from Carterton to Headington runs through Minster Lovell and earlier times have been added to the 233 service from Milton-under-Wychwood to Witney, but residents say the services are worse.

Dorothy Holloway, 66, said: “We want our S2 back and nothing less – it’s not acceptable and is making life hell for everyone.

“The S7 doesn’t run frequently enough and if you miss one you have an hour to wait.

“You have to go into Witney to get a bus to Oxford which, if you have to pay, works out very expensive.”

Stagecoach added the S7 bus, which started running on Monday last week, to take passengers to near the John Radcliffe Hospital.

It followed a campaign by councillors and residents, who said it took up to two-and-a-half hours to get from Witney to the county’s main hospital.

The company also made changes to its S1, S2 and S3 services, including adding more rush hour journeys and replacing minibuses with double-decker services.

The S2 used to travel from outside the White Hart pub in Minster Lovell to Oxford at mainly half-hour intervals but the new S7 service only runs hourly for less of the day.

A working group has now been set up including the company, residents, parish council, Oxfordshire County Council and West Oxfordshire District Council to try to find a solution.

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