CAMPAIGNERS have accused transport bosses of failing to publicise proposals to cut bus subsidies widely enough.

A small protest was staged yesterday outside County Hall by members of Bus Users Oxford, who called on Oxfordshire County Council to extend a public consultation, which ended yesterday, on its savings plan by another four weeks.

The group claims the council may have breached the Equality Act 2010 by not making the consultation documents accessible for those with disabilities such as the visually-impaired.

The county council yesterday said it had provided a telephone support line run by Oxfordshire Rural Community Council (ORCC) for the entire consultation, but campaigners claimed this was not enough.

Bus Users Oxford equalities officer Mark Jones, 28, criticised the support line for only being open during office hours during the 12-week consultation.

Mr Jones, who is partially sighted and lives in Rose Hill, said: “The county council says it wants to prioritise and protect the most vulnerable passengers, including those with disabilities.

“But this consultation has been less accessible to passengers with disabilities, and its results could therefore be skewed as a result.”

The local authority is reviewing more than 100 subsidies in order to save £2.3m, as part of wider £6.3m transport savings for up to 2018.

Speaking outside County Hall yesterday, Mr Jones’ wife Natalie said she also feared the number 20 bus – which runs from Rose Hill to Templars Square, in Cowley – could be lost because of the cut to subsidies, a route she uses to go shopping.

The 32-year-old is registered blind and uses a guide dog, Sidney .

“It would make it much more difficult for me to get around,” she said.

Hugh Jaeger, chairman of the bus users group, added: “As recently as last week I had frequent users of subsidised buses meeting or phoning me and saying they didn’t know about the consultation .

“We want the council’s decisions to be based on the most complete and reliable evidence possible and if it wants fairness and inclusivity, it will accept our recommendations on accessibility, advertising and extending the consultation.

“If not, Bus Users Oxford cannot rule out bringing a legal challenge against the county council.”

County council spokeswoman Emily Reed said: “The consultation was launched on the county council and ORCC websites, via social media channels and direct communications with key stakeholders.”

Ms Reed said ORCC had fielded 120 phone calls about the consultation. She added: “ They have helped numerous callers from across the county over the past three months with completing the consultation over the phone.”