RESIDENTS in a village near Abingdon are concerned a county council bus review could see them left without an all-day service.

The contracts for county-wide bus services run out in June 2015 and several services to and from Oxford are under threat.

The 4, 63 and 66 services, which connect Appleton and Cumnor to Oxford and Abingdon, could be reduced and Appleton residents are worried they could be cut off.

The review found the 66 from Faringdon to Oxford may no longer divert through Appleton, while it suggests passengers using the 63 service through the village should walk to the A420 to catch the 66.

Betty Griffiths, 73, from Appleton, regularly uses the services and fears she may lose her independence.

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She said: “I don’t have a car – I am totally dependent on the bus.

“Everything I need, I need the bus for, whether it be going to the bank, the dentist, doing my shopping or going to the library.

“We might live in rural villages but we need access to public transport as well as anyone else – we hope a solution is found.”

The 63 is used by an average of 88 people per day with an annual subsidy of £53,854, £2.01 per person The 66 averages 11 passengers per day with an annual subsidy of £4,943, £1.77 per person.

Red Rose Travel operates the 63 service.

A spokesman said: “The 63 service could be withdrawn because it’s partly subsidised and we rely on passenger numbers, and the passengers numbers have been particularly low and it has become financially unviable.”

The number 4 service linking Cumnor and Abingdon could be lost on weekday and Saturday evenings and weekends.

The consultation report read: “Ongoing financial support for the section of route between Cumnor and Abingdon is unlikely to be provided from June 2015.

“As a result the evening and Sunday service between Cumnor and Abingdon is likely to be withdrawn from this date unless Oxford Bus Company or another operator decides that it can be operated commercially.”

The 4 currently receives a subsidy of £49,225 per annum.

According to the report, Monday to Saturday evening services have an average of 46 passengers per day, while 184 passengers use the Abingdon to Cumnor route on a Sunday.

Oxford Bus Company operations director Phil Southall said: “There is no question about the future of the City4 service during the daytime from Monday to Saturday.

“It will continue to be operated commercially.

“However, the section between Abingdon and Wootton and Cumnor is very lightly used in the evenings and on Sunday.

“It is currently supported by Oxfordshire County Council but they have indicated that could end in June next year.

“We are looking at the options and we’ve already started a series of meetings with interested groups along the route to see which journeys could continue to run in the future.”

The consultation periods ends on November 15.

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