A major south Oxfordshire bus service is set to be reinstated after it was originally scrapped eight years ago by Oxfordshire County Council. 

The new 68 bus service from Wantage to Faringdon, which launches next week, is operated by Pulhams Coaches. 

The new service will run between Wantage and Faringdon through Longcot, Uffington, Childrey and The Letcombes from Monday to Sunday. It will not operate on Sundays and public holidays.

The reinstatement drive began when the service was first discontinued in May 2015, with local councillors and residents banding together to explore options as to how services west of Wantage could be reinstated as soon as possible.

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The original cancellation came about as a result of an annual review of services across the county following cuts in the county council’s transport budget.

However, it has now been restored following Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet allocating £1.2m to improve rural public and community transport, launching services to connect villages back to the bus network.

Dr Paul Barrow, Ridgeway ward district councillor, has been at the forefront of efforts to see the bus service restored.

He said: “I’ve had residents telling me they’re absolutely delighted.

"The second the service was axed we had residents coming to us saying they wanted it back. A committee was set up by the deputy chair of Wantage Town Council.

“We first explored the prospect of using money from developers through s106 money to fund a community bus around Wantage, however there’s always the trouble of securing regular volunteer drivers.

“We’ve been in liaising with our contacts in Oxford throughout the process of getting a service back.

"Since learning that we had this new money through the county council from central government, it was put out to tender and successfully taken up by Pulhams Coaches.”

The newly named Route 68 begins next Monday (November 27) and will run four times a day. The timetable can be viewed here.

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Dr Barrow added: “At the present time, this new funding is only available until March 2025.

"We’ve been discussing with local parish councils different ways to try and get the existing X35 service running along Faringdon Road to divert into villages too.”

“We’re really hoping people utilise the service now we have it back. Strong use will hopefully serve as impetus for funding to continue past March 2025. Should it not, we will need to have a contingency plan in place.”

Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for transport management, said: “Many people rely on buses to get around the county, and beyond, and we’re committed to working with providers to make it as easy and reliable for them to do so.”