Mixed news for Thame’s threatened bus services

THE Operator of the High Wycombe to Thame bus route, Service 40, Carousel, has confirmed that, despite the withdrawal of a county council subsidy, the service will continue unchanged.

The 40 service, which diverts via the village of Towersey, will continue to run with seven daily journeys in each direction (Monday to friday).

However, no decision about the fully subsidised 120 (Princes Risborough to Thame), 121 (Princes Risborough to Watlington), 123 (Thame Local Service) or 124 (Thame to Watlington) services, has been confirmed by the Operator, Vale Travel. The subsidies for these services will end on July 20.

The bus operator Arriva, has confirmed that the previously subsidised part of the 280, Aylesbury-Oxford City Centre service (Sundays and Bank Holidays, first journey of the day, and one evening journey (both directions), will continue.

On November 10, 2015, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet took the decision to withdraw subsidies paid to run 118 subsidised bus routes in Oxfordshire, as a way of saving £3.7 million, after a reduction in funding from central government. This decision was approved at the full council’s overall budget setting meeting on February 16, 2016, and it was decided to cease all bus subsidies on July 20, 2016, the last day of the school term.

In a statement, the county council said: “The withdrawal of subsidy does not necessarily mean the service will be cancelled. We have been in discussion with operators who are exploring how they may be able to continue a service without subsidy. We now have information from the majority of operators, with only a few routes yet to be confirmed.

“As we receive further information we will update our webpage: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/subsidisedbuses.”