Valued bus services across Banbury have been given a lifeline thanks to a funding injection from the town’s County Councillors.
From Monday 30 April, bus services will resume in lower Hardwick, Grimsbury, and Poets Corner fulfilling a pledge Banbury Councillors made to residents last year. The resumption of services is a result of County Councillors within the Conservative-led Banbury locality pooling available funds (£12,000) to secure the return of the routes. The 12-week trial period for the new B7a, B7b, and B8 buses will be provided by Kidlington Assisted Transport CIC.
Hardwick County Councillor, and Conservative candidate for the Cherwell District Council elections on May 3, Tony Ilott said: “The resumption of a Hardwick bus service will be welcome news to the community. Many residents have contacted me concerned about the service loss. I have been working extremely hard on a solution and am delighted this has come to fruition.”
David Beverly, Conservative candidate for Grimsbury and Hightown added: “Having spoken to so many residents on the doorsteps of Grimsbury, I was aware that public transport provision was a concern. The new B7a bus is an excellent example of how cross-party cooperation can work in the best interests of residents. I urge as many people as possible to take advantage of the service.”
Kieron Mallon, Conservative County and District Councillor for the Easington area also said: "A community bus service can work; I successfully reinstated the B1 route on the other side of Easington last year and it has continued to run ever since. This pilot could very well see the return of a more permanent service in Poets Corner, but residents must 'use it or lose it.'"
New timetables for all three routes can be download below this article. Services will run Monday to Friday. Concessionary bus passes will be accepted.
Our thanks to Kidlington Assisted Transport for working with the Banbury locality Councillors on this scheme.
