A SLIDE in growth at the parent of Oxford Bus Company has been partly blamed on roadworks in the city.

Go-Ahead Group said yesterday it had pushed back a target to reach £100m in operating profits for its bus division by a year, to 2016/17, due to low inflation, economic weakness in the north east and roadworks in Oxford and Brighton.

In a statement on its 2014/15 performance, the firm said its bus division made an overall operating profit of £89m.

This was an increase of 6.6 per cent on the previous year, but behind expectations.

A decline in passenger numbers in regional bus services, which fell 1.4 per cent, was partly blamed.

The company said roadworks in Oxford and Brighton had “significantly” impacted services and reduced passenger travel.

Go-Ahead Group chief executive David Brown said: “While the majority of our regional operations saw growth in passenger journeys, passenger growth in our regional bus business overall was down as a result of continuing economic weakness in the north east and the impact of roadworks on our services in Oxford and Brighton.

“In particular, in Oxford, ongoing long delays due to congestion are deterring bus travel.”

But he added: “We expect some of the headwinds to reverse over time and this, along with reduced fuel costs, gives us continued confidence in the prospects for the bus division.

“The group remains in a good financial position, with a robust balance sheet.”