Locals help improve bus services

RELIEVED SADDLEWORTH and Lees travellers will benefit from an extra special present in the New Year – vital changes to bus times.

People living and working in the area spoke to local bus operator First Bus to help shape future services as part of a wide-ranging consultation exercise last month.

And the company has promised to make an immediate change to times of route 180 and 184 from January 26 next year as the major roadworks in Oldham come to an end.

This will allow First Bus to increase services from Greenfield to every 30 minutes and retime departures from Uppermill to remove the current half-hourly gap.

First Bus is also reviewing other suggestions from customers and stakeholders and will consider what changes can be made, with alternations most likely be put into place in April 2014.

The company is determined to grow the number of people using buses in the area and believes following up on the results of this consultation will help achieve this aim.

Paul Turner, First’s business development director, said: “We are delighted with the response from our customers in Saddleworth and Lees, which showed satisfaction with improvements in service performance and value for money over the last year.

“More than 150 responses were received with many suggestions for improving our services.

“We are able to make an initial improvement in Greenfield and Uppermill in January and will continue with our review in consultation with a view to making other changes in the spring.”

The news follows the successful Route 180 Bus Campaign and submission to First Bus of a 500-name petition organised by Cllr Richard Knowles and Cllr John McCann with residents and local shopkeepers.

Cllr Knowles, a retired councillor and former Oldham Mayor, said: “Local bus users were enraged by last year’s cut by First Bus in the Greenfield/Oldham-Manchester 180 bus service to hourly frequency.

“The Route 180 Bus Campaign has now succeeded in persuading First Bus to reinstate the half hourly frequency which is a vital connection for many local residents.”

Royce Franklin, chair of the Saddleworth Traffic and Transport group added: “During the Metrolink development in Oldham, First Bus have had to endure constantly varying routes and obstacles which have led to considerable delays not of their making.

“We are grateful to them for setting up the survey and look forward to receiving the final report and future liaison reflecting passengers’ needs.”

Full timetables will be available in due course.