Villages get trial bus services (From The Oxford Times)

Villages get trial bus services

11:20am Wednesday 7th December 2011 in Wallingford By Andrew Ffrench

FIVE villages in South Oxfordshire have linked up to fund a month-long trial of weekend buses, after a similar service was axed earlier this year.

Thames Travel withdrew the Oxford-Watlington 101 Saturday evening service in June after bus subsidies across the county were reviewed.

Now the Abingdon-based Go Ride bus company has talked to villagers and come up with a plan to revive the service, which could be made permanent from March.

Watlington, Cuxham, Chalgrove, Stadhampton and Garsington parish councils have united with Go Ride to restore weekend journeys.

And Chalgrove county councillor David Turner has agreed a £300 grant to fund a trial of weekend services running this month.

Bus company bosses hope if that proves successful, and they win a Big Society grant from the council of £13,000 plus the further contribution from the parishes of £2,000, the service can run permanently from March.

Go Ride spokesman Danny Douglas said: “We are a community transport operator and use small buses.

“This will create access along the B480 for these parishes and serve Lewknor as well.

“For the first time we’ll have a Sunday service.”

Mr Douglas said there would be four return journeys between Watlington and Oxford on Saturday nights starting at 6pm, calling at Cuxham, Chalgrove, Stadhampton, Garsington, Cowley and Oxford.

On Sundays there will be four return journeys from Lewknor to Oxford, from 9.15am to 5.15pm.

Mr Turner, who is also leader of South Oxfordshire District Council's Liberal Democrat group, said: “These days, when rural bus services are disappearing quickly, it is great to see how five parish councils have worked together with the Go Ride bus company to revive a Saturday evening service which was lost in June.

“In addition, they have gained a Sunday bus service to Oxford.

“The services will connect a catchment area of 10,000 people with the Oxford area and will enable people to enjoy the entertainment and restaurant facilities of Oxford and Cowley without having to drive.

“At long last, they will also be able to take advantage of Sunday shopping in Oxford.”

The first service left for Oxford from outside Watlington Library in High Street on Saturday night.

In September, a daytime bus link between Watlington and Cowley shopping centres in Oxford was reinstated.

This followed Thames Travel withdrawing the connection when it made major timetable changes after losing a £130,000 annual subsidy for the 106 route due to county council budget cuts.

As a result, shoppers from Watlington, Cuxham, Chalgrove and Stadhampton had to change buses in Oxford to reach Templars Square and Templars Retail Park at Cowley.

But after gaining experience operating the new timetable, Thames Travel decided it would be able to reinstate off-peak weekday services via Cowley.

For further information visit goridebus.co.uk