BUS users need to create their own campaign group if they are to prevent more services in Bicester being lost, a local councillor has warned.

It follows the news Thames Travel is cancelling routes 22 and 23 after revealing they were losing £4,500 each week – making them unsustainable.

The operator said it had tried to find other partners to work with to make the routes profitable, but with no solution available the services between Bicester Town Centre, Fields Farm, Langford, Southwold, Caversfield and Bure Park will stop next month.

The cuts come after Oxfordshire County Council axed all bus subsidies last month to make savings, meaning many routes are no longer profitable.

Bicester Town councillor Les Sibley said setting up a campaign group would give those who rely on the bus a voice if further cuts were put forward.

He said: "I know people may grumble, but if the buses are not being used and are running at a loss, it is unfortunate but everyone has to cut their costs.

"Bicester needs a local bus group and committee from the local area to have a say in tackling these problems.

"It just needs to be a bit streamline and if a local committee were to be involved then it would be a voice for the local residents.

"It is about being a bit more imaginative with the routes they run. All across Bicester they need to look at the routes and work out which routes are empty and where buses are needed."

Thames Travel's Managing Director Phil Southall said "We’re really disappointed that, despite a huge amount of hard work we have not been successful in our efforts to secure the future of the Bicester Town services.

"We saw this project as a great opportunity to bring together the various transport offerings that exist in the town into one cohesive package, which would better serve the local community and provide a solid foundation for the high levels of growth expected in Bicester over the next 10 years.

"Unfortunately by September 3, it will already have cost us in excess of £27,000 to operate the services on a commercial basis and, therefore, with no real prospect of a longer term solution, we regretfully have no option but to cease the services on September 3."

This cancellation follows Heyfordian's announcement it was stopping the 37 Bicester to Finmere service and its 81A Bicester to Somerton service, although this was replaced with an alternative Friday 81 service through the villages.

Stagecoach also announced it was stopping the number 8 from Bicester to Silverstone and Thames Travel axed the 24 route from Bicester town centre to Launton, the 25 from Bicester to Bletchingdon, Kidlington and Oxford and the T94 Oxford, Ambrosden and Bicester route.

Speaking of the latest cut, Caversfield parish clerk Jane Olds said: "It is a great shame, it will affect Caversfield and Bure Park but I have also seen the bus going round empty a number of times.

"It is a positive that Heyfordian have put on the Friday bus for villagers which keeps them from being totally isolated.

"We have been having discussions to look for alternative solutions. Unfortunately we do not have the £4,000 a week to run the route, so we need to all work together really to find those alternatives and a proper stake holder group would help if it can help create positive action."

The county council said it needed to make the cuts to save money.