COWLEY Road carnival is quite rightly getting lots of coverage, prior to the big event.

Unfortunately, a large area of Cowley and Florence Park will again be without transport to get there (or anywhere else) for the whole day.

Bus companies again propose no buses at all from the Swan junction for the whole length of Oxford Road as well as Cowley Road.

I wrote to the organisers and the Oxford Mail last year suggesting a shuttle bus from the Swan junction down to Howard Street or Magdalen Road.

Many local people told me they supported this suggestion. The organisers have emailed me this year to say that the bus companies consider there to be a lack of a ‘...safe dropping off/picking up point and turning circle’.

Normal bus stops all along the route should certainly still be safe, while a loop route along Howard Street, Ridgefield and Magdalen Roads should be possible with a little advanced planning. Or, buses could travel along the start of Howard Street, then along Cricket Road back up to Templars Square.

This latter option would have the advantage of allowing people to link up with buses travelling into Oxford via Iffley and Abingdon Roads. There is no excuse for poor public transport to such an event.

For those with poor mobility, younger children, and the like. the distance to, and more importantly, back up the Cowley and Oxford Roads, for some including Crescent Road hill on return, is simply too much.

It puts people in this area at a large disadvantage or requires them to use a car, adding to the congestion.

I would urge the carnival organisers and bus companies to have further discussions as soon as possible.

HILARY GRIME
Lawrence Road
Oxford

Today’s letters

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