SIR, The loss of the local Grove-Wantage Thames Travel bus service has been a blow to residents of Grove who used it to go to Wantage, to the health centre in Mably Way, or further afield to Harwell campus or Didcot.

The loss also affected those who live in the villages along the A417, such as East Hendred, who are registered with our health centre practices but can no longer get a bus direct to the health centre.

More than 300 current and potential bus users, of whom more than 100 were from Grove, signed a petition that was presented to the county council on November 21. The cabinet member for transport, David Nimmo-Smith, received the petition and promised to respond. At the time of writing we have not yet received his response.

We understand that the county council is still examining options for commissioning a 36 bus service along the original 36 route that took in the estates along Brereton Road and Mayfield Avenue. Sadly too late for regular users who have had to find another way to work.

There is a door-to-door Dial-a-Ride service for people who need to get to the health centre and can’t walk very far to a main bus route. Leaflets are in the health centre practices and the Old Mill Hall. This costs £5 a year to buy into, then each journey is free after that.

Meanwhile, the county council is keen to support a local community bus solution if enough willing people can be found to help run the scheme and drive the bus. They have offered the loan of a minibus from their own stock and grants to help set it up.

For more information and to offer to be trained as a minibus driver serving your community, please contact Jean Nunn-Price, 48 Denchworth Road, Wantage, OX12 9ES, or email: jean@phonecoop.coop, or telephone: 0845 330 6346.

Jean Nunn-Price, Denchworth Road, Wantage