More transport for people with mobility problems

12.26.00pm GMT Tue 20th Jan 2009

The dial-a ride consortium of Vale, West and City looks set to expand to provide more transport support for people in these districts with mobility problems, and who cannot use a conventional bus. Oxford City itself funded a second minibus from April 2007 and this will now be available five days a week instead of four. The County Council has been paying half the total cost of providing one bus per district and is considering extending this to cover the second Oxford bus as well.

Cllr Jean Fooks, who represents Summertown and Wolvercote on the County Council, is delighted that Oxford will get an enhanced service from April, subject to final agreement. "This is excellent news. I know how valued this service is by people who otherwise would not be able to get out to shop, visit friends or get to doctors' appointments unless they could find someone to take them or had to pay for a taxi."

The dial-a-ride service, known to most as Octabus, serves both rural and urban areas.

The Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Transport, Cllr Roz Smith, also welcomed the extension of the service. Roz persuaded the officers to approach the parish councils to help with funding.

Cherwell District Council has their own provision, while South Oxfordshire are considering whether to join the Consortium from April.