Rural bus service axed (From Witney Gazette)

Rural bus service axed

2:39pm Monday 11th December 2006 in Witney By Rosalind Miles

A BUS company has pulled the plug on a rural bus service because it says it cannot continue without a subsidy.

But the axe is bad news for passengers living in the Wychwoods area of West Oxfordshire.

Student Robert Moore, a 19-year-old student, who lives in Shipton-under-Wychwood, will no longer be able to catch the X3 service at 7am, which goes from Milton-under-Wychwood to Shipton, on to Oxford via Witney.

The leg of the journey between Milton and Witney was scrapped by operators, Stagecoach, after the county council refused to put in public subsidy money. They say not enough people use that part of the journey.

Mr Moore, who studies computer science at Oxpens College, said: "So many people use the service. It's not like it's an empty bus, people are standing up a lot of the way.

"All those people are going to be driving into Oxford, which is bad for them, and bad from an environmental point of view.

"I am totally appalled, getting the bus was so convenient, and I paid for a student bus pass. It's going to be an absolute nightmare. We do have a train, but even if I find a train that gets me in on time, I will have to buy another pass."

His mother, Julie Moore, said: "We are just sitting here wondering how he is going to get into college on time. There will still be a later bus, but it will get him in too late." Allan Field, county council bus services manager, said: "We subsidise the rest of the bus service. The bit between Witney and Oxford will still run, that will continue without subsidy."

Chris Childs, of Stagecoach, said: "Without a subsidy from the council, this route cannot run. It is not a commercial route. Not enough people use it for us to run the service."