A NEW evening park-and-ride service is being launched by Oxford Bus Company to attract extra visitors to the city centre.

The services come into operation at Redbridge, Pear Tree, Seacourt and Thornhill on Monday.

Oxford Bus Company said the new services were a vote of confidence in Oxford’s evening economy.

Operations director Louisa Weeks said: “We think it’s important to support the local economy especially when many people and firms are facing challenging times. We’re following our own convictions here and funding the extra journeys ourselves.

“We didn’t think it was right to ask for public money at a time of cutbacks.”

There will be services running every half hour in the evenings.

Last buses will leave the city centre at or just after 11.30pm from Monday to Saturday. Normal park and ride services currently end at 8pm.

Oxford’s park-and-ride sites are run by Oxfordshire County Council, with free parking for anyone wishing to get into the city.

Rodney Rose, cabinet member for transport, said: “We’re delighted Oxford Bus Company has decided to introduce these evening services.

“This will give people greater flexibility in planning their journeys at no extra cost to the taxpayer. I hope this encourages yet more people to take advantage of park-and-ride.”

There will also be extra journeys to and from Water Eaton on Saturdays, with the frequency increased to every 15 minutes.

There will also be extra buses on the 300 Redbridge to Pear Tree service on Sundays, which will now run every 12 minutes.

In 2005, Oxford Bus Company cut services after 8pm following talks with the county council about financial assistance and a decline in passengers.

In yesterday’s Oxford Mail we reported charging to park-and-ride was one idea being floated to help protect vital services from County Hall spending cuts.

Green county councillors will table the idea later this month, saying services for the elderly and disabled must take priority.

Parking at the city’s five park-and-ride sites is currently free, although users have to pay for the bus journey into town.

Green councillors believe charging £2 to park could raise up to £4m in extra income but the leader of the city council, Bob Price, said charging would harm trade in the city centre.

Jeremy Mogford, of the High Street Traders’ Association, said: “Extending the park and ride service is welcome news.

“But I know some people remain concerned about the safety of their cars in park-and-rides late at night. So it is a good idea as long as security is properly taken care of.”