BUS users have called for the reintroduction of a popular cross-Oxford service which was withdrawn because roadworks were causing too many delays.

Passengers in North Oxford want Stagecoach to reinstate the old No 7 service, linking Kidlington, Summertown, the city centre, Headington and Barton.

It split the route into two in April 2007, because roadworks at the Green Road roundabout in Headington and in Oxford High Street meant the company could have faced heavy fines if buses were late.

It now means passengers have to get off 7A and 7B services in Magdalen Street and walk to Queen Street to catch the 7C to Barton.

Pensioners and disabled passengers said it had made it difficult for them to get across the city – and the county council’s proposed Transform Oxford strategy could make it worse.

Oxfordshire County Council’s plans to pedestrianise the city centre would leave passengers facing an even longer walk, from a new bus turning circle in St Giles to New Road, where the stop for 7C is set to be moved.

Ruth Escritt, 89, who lives at Ritchie Court, in Banbury Road, said she had not seen a close friend in Headington since October last year, as the journey was too difficult.

Mrs Escritt, who walks with a stick, said: “There are parts of Oxford that are inaccessible directly.

“We desperately want the cross-city service back.”

A taxi to Headington would cost Mrs Escritt £16, but the bus journey would be free.

John Wells, 57, of Cav-endish Road, has had to walk with crutches for the past 15 years. He said: “The service is bad and at the moment it only looks like it’s going to get worse if Transform Oxford goes ahead.

“We rely on buses to be independent and we want this service back.”

Jean Fooks, the Liberal Democrat city and county councillor for North Oxford, said: “There are masses of pensioners and disabled people who would benefit from the reintroduction of these services.”

Mrs Fooks wants to see the service reinstated as soon as Stagecoach and Oxford Bus Company can establish joint timetabling and ticketing.

Stagecoach spokesman Chris Child said: “We had always hoped to reconnect the service, but it’s something we would have to think about very carefully.

“It had become impossible to run reliably since congestion in Headington adversely affected Summertown and visa versa and we found we could run more reliably as two separate routes.

“Roadworks definitely played a part in that.

“If the Transform Oxford proposal to relocate the Magdalen Street bus stops to St Giles goes ahead it will make cross-city services even more difficult.”

Ian Hudspeth, the county council cabinet member for transport, said plans for St Giles would go out to consultation next year.

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk l ‘Delay changes’: P8