Agenda item

The Committee has requested a report on bus services and rural transport, including mobility hubs, in Oxfordshire.

Cllr Andrew Gant, Cabinet member for Transport Management, Cllr Judy Roberts, Cabinet member for Place, Environment, and Climate Change, Paul Fermer, Director of Environment and Highways, and Ben Smith, Strategic Transport Manager, Melissa Goodacre, Sustainable Transport Manager, Ashley Hayden, Team Leader: Area Travel Plans, Dave Harrison, Team Leader: Public Transport, Eric Manners: Technical Leader: Active Travel, have been invited to present the report.  

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

The Committee considered a report on bus services, rural transport and mobility hubs in Oxfordshire.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, and Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, attended to introduce the report. They were accompanied by Paul Fermer, Director of Environment and Highways, Robin Rogers, Director of Economy and Place, and Ben Smith, Strategic Transport Manager, Melissa Goodacre, Sustainable Transport Manager, Ashley Hayden, Team Leader: Area Travel Plans, Dave Harrison, Team Leader: Public Transport, Eric Manners: Technical Leader: Active Travel.

Councillor Gant outlined the background to the Council’s bus strategy following the withdrawal of all bus subsidies in 2016 and the subsequent rebuilding of the network. Members were informed that, since July 2024, all parishes with a population of 500 or more were served by a scheduled bus service, and that this represented a significant achievement when compared with national trends.

The Committee heard that bus services were delivered through a mix of funding sources, including the Bus Service Improvement Plan, the enhanced partnership with operators, contributions from public institutions, community transport organisations and, in some cases, private employers. The popularity and financial impact of the “MyBus” ticket offers, particularly the young person’s day ticket, were noted, with Members recognising both the social benefits and the pressure placed on Council finances.

Councillor Roberts introduced the section of the report on mobility hubs, emphasising their importance in improving rural connectivity and enabling modal shift in a predominantly rural county. Members noted that over 300 potential hub locations had been identified through public engagement and that pilot schemes were being progressed, alongside integration with Movement and Place Plans, the Oxfordshire Rail Plan and wider corridor studies. Officers advised that £1.4m had been committed to the programme, although some sites would be taken forward through related strategic transport schemes due to design or location constraints.

Officers also highlighted the Council’s rural active travel and behaviour‑change work, including delivery of Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plans, the Oxfordshire Greenways programme, Quiet Lanes pilots, school travel initiatives and incentive schemes. It was emphasised that these initiatives were intended to support healthier places and reduce inequalities, particularly in rural areas.

Members discussed rural connectivity and accessibility of bus services. Concerns were raised about limited frequency on some rural routes and the impact on access to education, healthcare and employment. The Committee discussed the potential role of feeder or shuttle services linking smaller settlements to main bus corridors, noting changes in legislation which might allow greater flexibility and cross‑subsidisation. Officers advised that community transport, Council‑operated services and the Comet bus already played an important role, and that cost, demand and value for money had to be carefully balanced when considering frequency improvements.

The Committee discussed the relationship between bus services, park and ride provision and wider network performance, including the implications of the Botley Road closure and its eventual reopening. Officers advised that improved journey time reliability would enable better use of existing resources and potentially reduce the need for Council subsidy on some services.

Members raised issues of accessibility to bus stops, including the lack of footways, dropped kerbs and safe crossings, which could prevent residents from using services even where stops existed. Officers confirmed that forthcoming capital funding would enable targeted improvements as part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan and accessibility work.

The Committee discussed communication and public understanding of services. Members emphasised the importance of improving awareness of existing routes, particularly among vulnerable residents, and queried whether “mobility hubs” was a sufficiently clear term, suggesting that plainer language such as “transport hubs” might be more accessible. Officers acknowledged the point and confirmed that communication and terminology were under review.

Members raised questions about specific schemes referenced in the report, including park and ride proposals, interim improvements at Oxford railway station, and the inclusion of continuous walking and cycling routes alongside major infrastructure projects. Officers advised that these matters were being considered through existing strategies and engagement with delivery partners.

The Committee welcomed the progress made in stabilising and extending bus services, but recognised the ongoing challenges of rural connectivity, accessibility, funding constraints and public communication.

The Committee agreed to make recommendations to Cabinet under the following headings:

1. That the Council explores pilot shuttle or feeder bus services in rural areas to improve connectivity between smaller settlements and main bus corridors, where this would reduce isolation and improve access to services.
   
   
2. That the Council reviews the terminology and communications used for “mobility hubs”, including consideration of adopting clearer, more accessible language such as “transport hubs”.
   
   
3. That the Council improves communication and engagement to ensure residents, particularly in rural areas and vulnerable groups, are aware of available bus services and how to access them.
   
   
4. That the Council continues to prioritise improvements to accessibility of bus stops and routes, including footways, crossings and dropped kerbs, as part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan and capital programmes.
   
   
5. That the Council considers options for more granular assessment of demand for bus services, to complement population‑based analysis and inform future service planning.
   
   
6. That the Council ensures Movement and Place Plans and section 106 priorities clearly reflect local transport needs, including bus services and active travel, alongside strategic infrastructure.
   
   
7. That the Council accelerates progress on key transport and interchange schemes, including interim improvements at Oxford railway station and integration with wider corridor and rail strategies.