Bus service is unpredictable (From Oxford Mail)

Bus service is unpredictable

6:00pm Wednesday 13th June 2012 in News By Damian Fantato , covering Summertown, Jericho and North Oxford. Call me on 01865 425429

MAJOR roadworks on Oxford’s Iffley Road have been blamed for unpredictable bus times.

Littlemore is served by Stagecoach’s route 16 buses which are supposed to run every half an hour.

But Littlemore resident Dorian Hancock, who is a member of the parish council, has raised concerns about the unpredictability of the service.

He said: “It is ridiculous. It is used by old people and people with pushchairs.

“Quite often the bus doesn’t even come and then you have to wait an hour rather than just 30 minutes.

“When you see how regularly the number one service or the number five run between the city centre and Blackbird Leys it is really galling.”

Both these services run every four minutes and Mr Hancock thinks Littlemore deserves a more regular service.

He said: “I would like to see one more buses an hour running between Littlemore and the city centre.

“It is young people who use this bus service as well as old people.

“Don’t forget that Littlemore has got Oxford Science Park as well as Oxford Academy.”

Robert Williams, Stagecoach Oxfordshire’s commercial manager, said some of the problems were caused by resurfacing work in Iffley Road.

Last night Oxfordshire County Council, which is carrying out the scheme, said it was on course to be completed by the end of the month.

Work on the last section, between Howard Street and Donnington Bridge Road, is currently under way, with motorists reporting delays at the busy Donnington Bridge Road junction.

Mr Williams said: “We recognise that there have been issues on route 16 and our staff are working very hard to keep the service running to time.

“There has been a lot of unpredictable congestion recently, particularly caused as a knock-on effect of the Iffley Road roadworks and including the closure of Abingdon Road after an accident on May 29.

“The roadworks are expected to be completed soon, so we hope it will lead to a marked improvement. We will be keeping a close eye on things to make sure that is the case.

“We apologise for any inconvenience.”

County council spokesman Paul Smith said: “Iffley Road was worn out and in real need of repair before work started in mid 2011.

“It is good that we are now approaching the end of what has been a long job to give it the upgrade it has needed.

“The job is on schedule to be completed at the end of June and we are sure residents and motorists are looking forward to the work drawing to a close.

“Carriageway reconstruction and improvements to drainage, kerbing and footways have been the constituent parts of the job.”

Branko Parojcic, owner of the Balkan Lodge Hotel in Iffley Road, said the roadworks had been “an absolute nightmare”.

He said: “People are struggling to get here. If something’s going on in Iffley Road, it affects all the businesses.

“I certainly hope it will be finished soon.”