Frustrated public transport users have written to their council after a bus has reportedly failed to come through their village on multiple occasions.

Complaints have been lodged with Launton Parish Council after the number 17 bus, operated by Red Rose Travel and running between Aylesbury and Bicester, has allegedly not shown up in the village.

It is understood that this is particularly affecting elderly residents who rely on public transport.

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Jan Stalder, from Launton, said: “We saw the bus whizzing down the A41 last week towards Rodney house roundabout obviously cutting out the village.”

Another Launton householder Lesley Thompson, added: “A lady waited for an hour in Launton and when the bus came back the other way she asked the driver why the last bus hadn’t turned up.

"He informed her that he was in a hurry and so took the A41 straight to Bicester, by-passing Launton.”

Red Rose Travel receives a subsidy from Oxfordshire County Council to provide the service through Launton.

A spokesman for the council said: “It is vital that bus companies meet their responsibilities to passengers, especially when those services receive financial support from the council.

“We will remind them of these obligations if we are aware of any instances of services not following the correct route, and encourage affected passengers to contact the bus company concerned.”

A spokesman for Red Rose said the company had not received any complaints from bus users or Launton Parish Council.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1