Bus service review

Oxford county council are undertaking a review of the current bus service in the area and all opinions are greatly welcomed.

Information on the review can be viewed here and if you have an interest or opinion could you please contct roger.templeman@southmoreton.org.uk by 10th November at the latest to allow time for submission prior to the 15th November OCC deadline.

A new forum topic has been raised for any views.

Bus service facts

ITEM M Services 94/95 Contract V32: Didcot – Hagbournes – Blewbury Circular services linking Didcot with East Hagbourne, West Hagbourne, Blewbury and Upton (94) and North Moreton, South Moreton, Aston Tirrold, Blewbury and East Hagbourne (95)

Operator Thames Travel

Days of operation Monday to Saturday

Frequency 94: single morning peak journey, two evening peak journeys, broadly two-hourly off-peak circular service 95: early morning, early evening and four off-peak journeys

Parishes served Didcot, East Hagbourne, West Hagbourne, North Moreton, South Moreton, Aston Tirrold, Aston Upthorpe, Upton, Blewbury

Divisions served Didcot East and Hagbourne, Didcot Ladygrove, Didcot West, Hendreds and Harwell

Alternative services· North Moreton, South Moreton, East Hagbourne, Aston Tirrold, Aston Upthorpe and Blewbury are all linked with Wallingford on Fridays only by Whites Coaches service 131 (not currently under review) · Upton and West Hagbourne have no other bus service

Current subsidy per annum £79,591

Average passenger journeys per day 151 Cost per passenger journey £1.73

Officers’ comments· On 14 surveyed journeys, a total of 40 passengers (less than 3 per journey) have been recorded travelling on the section of route unique to service 95 (serving Aston Tirrold, Aston Upthorpe, North Moreton, South Moreton and Didcot Tesco). · The section of route to/from Milton Park is provided commercially by Thames Travel. As there is little evidence of use, continuation of this facility has to be considered doubtful. · Early morning and later evening journeys would appear to be little used (with a maximum of 4 passengers recorded on the first two and last two journeys of the day). Continuation of these facilities may be unsustainable. · Although their importance to the communities they serve is appreciated, some changes to services 94 and 95 (for example reduction in frequency and/or combination with other routes) may be necessary, particularly if tender prices for these routes increase.