A MORE frequent bus service is needed in Littlemore to cope with a growing population, it has been claimed.

Stagecoach’s 16 and 16A services run from the area to the city centre, but buses only run every half hour from most stops. Some stops are served just once an hour.

City councillor for Littlemore John Tanner said residents and road users would benefit if the service was increased, and pledged to launch a campaign for better services.

He said: “Littlemore has more and more housing developments and in turn more and more people who want to use the buses. I would think it would be commercially sensible to increase the buses.

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“The lack of frequency means people find it difficult to get to work or get to the Cowley centre or to the doctors. We want people to use their cars as little as possible so having a very poor bus service for Littlemore does not help. If you live in Rose Hill or Blackbird Leys you have two very frequent bus services, and Littlemore is stuck in the middle.”

A development of 48 social houses in Minchery Farm will officially open later this month and Oxford University NHS Trust has applied for outline planning permission for a 270-home development near Armstrong Road.

A number of other private homes have been built in the neighbourhood over the past year.

Stagecoach said it was committed to offering a good service.

Spokeswoman Karen Coventry said: “We have already committed to continuing the evening and Sunday services on route 16 without subsidy after our current five-year contract with Oxfordshire County Council expires. We are currently examining ways in which we can make the daytime 16/16A services more attractive to encourage more people to use them.”

Bus user Hilda Beesley, 87, said it was important a more frequent service was delivered as soon as possible. The Bodley Road resident said: “I think they should run buses more buses around here.

There are so many buses in Blackbird Leys and in Cowley you see them empty on the top deck.”