A PETITION to save a threatened Witney bus route described as a “lifeline” to residents has drummed up more than 500 signatures.

West Oxfordshire District councillor Andrew Coles launched a campaign to try to save the Stagecoach 213, 214 and 215 circular service earlier this month.

The routes are currently under threat as Oxfordshire County Council seeks to find savings of £6.3m from its subsidised transport budget.

The hourly-service connects the town centre with Smith’s estate, Madley Park and Cogges estate.

Cllr Coles, who represents Witney Central ward, said: “We’re doing really well. It’s surprising how passionate people are about it. It’s so important to them, it is a lifeline.

“It really would limit people’s ability to to get out and live an independent life if it wasn’t there.

“Remember this is a generation of people that went through such hardship and made such sacrifices for us. It’s time for us to stand up and make sacrifices for them now.”

The bus also serves Witney’s Elms Day Centre in Moorland Road and carries pupils to both Witney’s secondary schools – Wood Green and Henry Box – and to a number of local primary schools.

Residents and passengers gathered on Smith’s estate on July 19 to launch the petition.

Cllr Coles is going door-to-door across the town to gather signatures for the petition over the course of the summer.

It will be formally presented to Oxfordshire County Council on September 14, when the consultation on changes to subsided bus services ends.

County council leader Ian Hudspeth previously told the Oxford Mail that the proposed cuts were “necessary” and “fair”, as part of wider measures to balance the council’s budget.

The petition will be presented by county councillor Laura Price, who represents Witney South and Central division.

The service first came into operation following bus deregulation and linked Wood Green School with Smith’s estate.

Stagecoach were the operators from 1996 to June 2014 when Go Ride took it over. But Stagecoach resumed its running when Go Ride quit the service in November 2014.