ON April 2 you reported that Oxfordshire County Council were promising improved local bus services in West Oxfordshire, despite there being a cut in funding. Our local county councillor Rodney Rose has also claimed to be at the forefront of making these improvements. The reality of what has occurred is far from what was promised.

In the past there were regular services throughout the day from Milton-under-Wychwood through Shipton and Burford to Witney, from there services were connected to Oxford and beyond.

In addition, it was possible to use a frequent and daily service to Chipping Norton as well as direct connections to Kingham and Charlbury railway stations, timed to link in with the railway timetable.

Since April the services offered have deteriorated dramatically, and for village residents who do not have access to cars, the quality of their lives have become seriously harmed.

Today’s letters

For a while a company called GoRide offered a service, that has proved to be catastrophic in terms of reliability, eg non-arrival of buses, appalling punctuality, drivers getting lost and asking passengers the way, and even buses running out of fuel. That service is to be discontinued within the next few days.

Now, a new timetable has been published with fresh operators, but the real provision of useable transport being offered is parlous.

There are no services connecting with trains at either Kingham or Charlbury, the only day there is a bus to Chipping Norton is on Friday, the return one leaving an hour and a half later. In real terms it is not feasible for residents to travel for such things as dental appointments at the nearest NHS dentist, neither are visits feasible to the new hospital built to serve West Oxfordshire.

The last bus from Witney to connect for Milton-under-Wychwood leaves Witney at 3.12pm, there are later buses from Burford, but there is no means of getting to them from Witney – making travel impossible for those who need a later bus, eg those in work or full-time study.

In addition it is also impossible for any resident who has an afternoon appointment at one of the Oxford hospitals to get home by public transport.

The whole issue is a fiasco, and has consequences that are too innumerable to describe. I think you should ask Rodney Rose, who claims to champion the bus service, to abandon his car for a week, and travel on his official duties (as well as on private ones), by public transport so that he can find out, at first hand, the futility of travel by public transport for his constituents.

MARTIN HALLAM Trinders Cottage Church Road Milton-under-Wychwood

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