An Oxford community is celebrating after their campaign to have their bus service reinstated was a success.
In January, bus services along Hinksey Hill were withdrawn following a Bus Network Review undertaken by Oxfordshire County Council.
This left people living in the area, particularly older residents, feeling isolated from Oxford.
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A petition set up by the Residents’ Group at Hinksey Hill called on the council and Oxford Bus Company to reinstate a bus route and gained hundreds of signatures.
Following pressure from the group and support of the Oxford Mail, the residents were recently given the news they were hoping for.
The X1 service from Wantage via Abingdon will now come via Hinksey Hill every 30 minutes for a minimum trial period of six months.
To celebrate the new service, the group have placed balloons on the bus stops which will now be used by the buses.
Alison Maitland, of the residents group, said people in the area are “quite excited” and local businesses are “thrilled” by the reinstated bus service.
She added: “We want to recognise Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company’s interim managing director, he has tried to be very constructive in working with us.
“MP Layla Moran has been very supportive and kept in touch.
“We are very grateful to those people and the Oxford Mail, who have been helping us to try and raise this issue and get the bus back.”
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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.
You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk
Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry
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