I WRITE in response to Ann Brand’s letter about changes to dial-a-ride services under the new county council-run scheme (Oxford Mail ViewPoints, March 27).

Unfortunately there’s no denying services will be significantly reduced in Cherwell, but it’s also true we’re providing dial-a-ride over a wider geographical area for the first time, with greatly reduced funding from the districts.

Dial-a-ride contracts previously operated in different districts under separate funding arrangements.

This meant Cherwell had a much higher level of service than other areas, and no district-wide service at all in South Oxfordshire.

With contracts due to end and budget pressures affecting all councils, the county council stepped in to create a standard level of service across all of Oxfordshire and increased its level of funding so buses could continue to operate up to 5pm from Monday to Friday.

District councils were invited to top up service levels in their areas if they wanted to continue funding dial-a-ride. Only Cherwell District Council has done so, which means despite reducing its contribution by £160,000, the district will in fact continue to receive a higher level of service than elsewhere.

I accept this may offer no comfort to Cherwell customers faced with service reductions, nor can their disappointment realistically be offset by the good news of dial-a-ride in South Oxfordshire for the first time – though good news that certainly is.

I suspect some will simply question the fairness of vastly different levels of service having existed across the county for so long.

There is no national obligation for councils to run dial-a-ride services, but we have put forward a solution because we recognise the importance of the service to some of the county’s most vulnerable people.

We are determined to deliver the best service we can with the resources at our disposal.

RODNEY ROSE Cabinet member for transport, Oxfordshire County Council New Road Oxford