17 to go

Following the removal of subsidies by the County Council the No 17 Jericho Stagecoach bus service is to finish in June.

Anne Mobbs of Jericho's Alive and Kicking groups says: "Older residents in Jericho are shocked and horrified that they will lose the 17 bus. We rely on the bus to get older residents into the City Centre, Summertown, and our hospital appointments at the JR, and Churchill hospitals."

The group has written to Oxford's other provider, the Oxford Bus Company, which operates the Thames Travel service, suggesting that No 6 Wolvercote bus be diverted along Kingston Road and Walton Street. "This would help older members of our Jericho community who will be hit very hard from the loss of the 17 bus. We are not strong enough to walk into the City and carry shopping home."

The Oxford Bus company understands Jericho's problem and is exploring the possibilities. They say this would probably not involve changing the No 6 route because that would reduce the service along the Woodstock Road. They do have small buses that would be suitable for Jericho but the challenge is to find a a package that is commercial. If they were to offer a service to take over from Stagecoach this would mean taking a decision by mid-May.