ALMOST 100 people have signed a petition demanding more frequent bus services in Littlemore.

Campaigners said they want to see buses serving the area at least once every 15 minutes, rather than the current 35-45 minutes.

Oxfordshire county councillor Gill Sanders, who helped start the petition, said the infrequent service was hurting employment prospects and opportunities for older people to socialise.

It comes after Oxford city councillor for Rose Hill, Ed Turner, raised similar fears.

Mrs Sanders said: “The bus service in Littlemore is absolutely vital. It is a lifeline for elderly people who would otherwise be trapped in their houses, would not get out, would not go to Cowley centre for a cup of tea and a chat with their friends.

“People from Littlemore go to the GP in Donnington or East Oxford. If they do not have a good bus service they need to pay for taxis.

“In terms of job opportunities for young people it restricts them. They need a good bus service to get to their place of work. It is as if we are out in the sticks.”

Littlemore is currently served by Stagecoach’s 16/16A service which stops in the area every 30 to 40 minutes on weekdays, and Thames Travel’s T2 service.

The T2 stops outside the George pub in Sandford Road once an hour during the day, with more regular services at morning and evening peak times.

Bus campaigner Hilda Beesley, 87, said she was delighted with the petition.

The Bodley Road resident added: “We should have a bus every 15 minutes. The buses that do come are often late because of the traffic so it would be good if there were more regular ones.

“Everybody is talking about the lack of buses. It would be better for young people to help them get to work.

“I would encourage everyone to sign the petition and hopefully that will get something done.”

Oxford city councillor for Littlemore, John Tanner, has set up the petition on campaigning website 38 Degrees. He said: “The petition calls on Stagecoach and Oxford Bus Company to dramatically improve buses in Littlemore.

“We need a regular 15-minute service with routes serving the centre of Oxford, the Cowley shopping centre and the Littlemore Science Park.”

Littlemore parish councillor David Henwood added: “These is an obvious inequality of service when comparing the neighbouring districts of Rose Hill and Blackbirds Leys.

“This inequality has effectively marginalised both Littlemore and Sandford from access to sport and leisure facilities, also with no direct routes for the infirm and elderly to dentist and hospital surgeries outside of Littlemore.”

Stagecoach Oxfordshire managing director Martin Sutton said: “We are certainly looking at the scope for expanding the Littlemore service, particularly with the new housing and other developments. “As yet we have no firm timescale and passenger numbers within the city are not growing at the moment. “We expect this to change when the new Westgate development opens. There will be more buses, but not just yet.”

To view the petition visit you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/better-buses-for-littlemore