A WITNEY councillor has started a campaign to try to save a popular Witney town bus route.

The Stagecoach 213, 214 and 215 circular service is under threat as Oxfordshire County Council seeks to find savings of £6.3m from it’s subsidised transport budget.

The hourly service connects the town centre with Smith’s estate, Madley Park and Cogges estate.

Andrew Coles, who represents Witney Central ward on West Oxfordshire District Council, said: “It is a vital community lifeline for many elderly residents who rely on the bus to be able to get into town to do their shopping, visit the doctors’ surgery and chemist and catch up with friends and relatives over a coffee.”

The bus also serves Witney’s popular Elms Day Centre in Moorland Road and carries pupils to Witney’s secondary schools – Wood Green and Henry Box – and to local primary schools.

Residents and passengers gathered on Sunday on Smith’s estate to launch a campaign and petition to save the bus.

Mr Coles went door-to-door across the town with colleagues and campaigners on the bus route to gather signatures for the petition over the course of the summer.

It will be formally presented to Oxfordshire County Council on September 14, the date the current consultation on changes to subsided bus services ends.

The petition will be presented by county councillor Laura Price, who represents Witney South and Central division.

Witney resident Trevor License, who’s father Ken originally established the service with Windrush Coaches following bus deregulation in 1986, said it would be a tragedy if this bus was lost.

He said: “It seems yet again the elderly and vulnerable are impacted the most by the cuts.”