WORRIED residents packed into a community hall to voice their concerns about losing a number of vital bus routes.

More than 150 people attended Ceewood Hall in Witney on Sunday as Stagecoach bus driver and district councillor Andrew Coles chaired a meeting on Oxfordshire County Council’s decision to withdraw all subsidised buses.

The council is trying to find £69m of cuts due to decreasing government funding and believes it can save £3.7m by scrapping the subsidies.

Mr Coles said: “The room was packed to the rafters. The purpose was to inform residents what was happening with their bus services.

“Most importantly it was for residents to ask their own questions to councillors and bus companies, which I thought was successful.

“It far exceeded our expectations. We had to put more chairs out and people were standing.

“It really demonstrated just how much people care about their local buses.

“Our passengers’ voices must be heard loud and clear.”

At the meeting, it emerged councillors and the audience were most concerned at losing Witney town routes 213, 214 and 215. They were also worried about routes 19 to Bampton, X9 to Chipping Norton and X15 to Abingdon.

Councillor Laura Price explained how she and her colleagues were looking at the possibility of founding a co-operative to run a community bus in Witney if the three local routes are withdrawn.

Chairman of Bus Users Oxford, Hugh Jaeger, advised the audience on their options if they wanted to found a Witney bus users group.

Mrs Price said she believed it was one of the largest public bus meetings that had taken place in Oxfordshire.

She said: “I don’t know for sure but this goes to show just how much public interest there is.”

Mr Coles added: “Thanks to everyone who came out to discuss the future of our buses. It is heartening to see so many people committed to the future of our buses in West Oxfordshire.”

Following the meeting, residents of Madley Park estate decided to organise a similar gathering on February 27.