Villagers back shuttle bus idea

Bus service 184 bus stop pictured on Huddersfield Road in Diggle.

SADDLEWORTH villagers are keen to support a shuttle bus service linking the whole community.

This is one of the findings revealed in a survey on Saddleworth transport by the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

The report says the consultation has been very successful in capturing "higher than expected" responses from residents.

It included regular public transport users and non-users.

It was conducted between October and September last year, and demonstrated a strong local desire to see improved public transport.

The survey was presented to Oldham councillor Adrian Alexander, chair of Saddleworth and Lees District Executive, and Royce Franklin, chair of the parish council traffic and transport sub-committee.

And the survey highlighted the biggest impact encouraging people to use the bus would be higher frequency, lower prices, quicker journey times and real-time information.

Encourage

When it came to trains, more frequent services, an integrated bus and train timetable, and later trains were the biggest factors to encourage people to use them.

But the survey found "little local appetite" for improving cycling provision in the area ­- with bus and rail improvements of more interest to respondents.

TfGM identified Saddleworth as an excellent location to examine rural public transport and to assess the current model of transport delivery.

Said Councillor Alexander: "Our next step is to put together a specific plan for the Saddleworth and Lees transport area.

"With help of TfGM we will then present it to the new Mayor of Manchester for approval and go ahead."

And he added: "We would like thank all the residents for taking the time making the effort to complete the survey and our own transport team headed by Royce Franklin."