Crucial link for college (From Witney Gazette)

Crucial link for college

3:03pm Tuesday 6th February 2007 in Witney By Tim Hughes

THERE are fears that students, commuters and shoppers in West and South Oxfordshire could be left stranded by changes to a popular bus service linking Witney, Abingdon, and Wallingford.

The X15 service is a crucial link for about 170 students at Abingdon and Witney College who regularly use the bus link between its two campuses.

But Thames Travel, which operates the hourly service has been told by Oxfordshire County Council that its contract will expire in June - the same day Government funding for the service dries up.

The council has also informed Abingdon and Witney College that it will no longer be able to meet its needs for the large-scale movement of students at peak hours.

The council has not announced any replacement, but it is thought smaller buses may have to be used because of the possibility of a 7.5-tonne weight restriction being imposed on the bridge over the River Thames, at The Rose Revived, between Standlake and Kingston Bagpuize.

The route is served at peak times by double-decker buses, and at other times by single deckers.

Teresa Kelly, the principal of the 1,500-student Abingdon and Witney College, said: "Lots of our students travel between Abingdon and Witney, and vice versa - and this is the only bus between the towns. The volume of students is so high, that we need a double-decker bus."

John Wright, the managing director of Thames Travel, said it would be impossible to provide the same level of service using smaller buses, without a massive increase in the number of vehicles.

Last week, there was shock and outrage at the college.

Lindsay Phillips, an administrator in Abingdon and Witney College's student centre, who is responsible for issuing bus passes, said: "A lot of students work on both campuses, so need this bus service.

"Without it, it would be impossible for them to get around."

Heather Pike, the college's assistant director, said: "It took several years of consultation to establish the route - and lot of public money has gone into it."

Oxfordshire County Council public transport officer Dick Helling said: "The county council is currently considering options.

"No final decision has been taken on the future of this service, or which bus operator would take any continuing service."