Upset over changes to Arriva 280 bus service between Aylesbury and Oxford

Villagers have expressed their upset and frustration over changes to the Arriva 280 bus service between Aylesbury and Oxford.
Arriva buses in AylesburyArriva buses in Aylesbury
Arriva buses in Aylesbury

The service stops in Dinton, Stone and Haddenham and is a lifeline for many residents who use it to get around.

But recent changes to the service have left many feeling frustrated, and a special meeting of Stone Thursday Club for the over 60s was held to discuss issues that members have been having last month.

More than 25 residents attended the meeting.

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One said: "I can no longer use the Stone/Aylesbury bus as I need a guarantee of its arrival and completion to the destination. This service has gone into such unreliable service I now have to pay for door to door service."

Another added: "“Missed appointments, missed trains, impossible to plan local visits.

"Over 80s are waiting up to 1 ½ hours in the cold – sometimes with nowhere to sit.

"For a non-driver or one preferring not to use a car the quality of life has gone down immeasurably.

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"No more trips to Oxford, even Thame is a nightmare. Before February this year the buses were good - one was able to get to a destination and home again.

"Being stranded in Thame (once for 90 minutes) or Oxford is not funny, nor is having to leave home an hour earlier than the train one wants to catch three miles away!”

An Arriva Spokesperson said: "We are aware that some of our recent service changes have resulted in a small number of our customers feeling dissatisfied, however the majority of customers have found these changes to be beneficial.

"In the time since the last timetable change there has been an increase in punctuality for the service. Arriva continues to review and improve services on a regular basis."