Extra hours for door-to-door buses
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date published: 09 December 2009
A DOOR-to-door bus service in Oldham has been expanded.
Residents of Chadderton, Royton and Shaw will be able to use the Oldham Shopping Link on weekends from Saturday for a trial period of 12 months.
Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) has agreed to extend the operating hours to run on Saturdays between 8am and 10pm and on Sundays from 10am to 2pm.
The service will be available to take residents to and from Tesco supermarket, Featherstall Road North, Westwood, and will be available to people of all ages.
The existing weekday Oldham Shopping Link, which serves Failsworth, Chadderton, Royton and Shaw, Saddleworth, and Oldham Central, will continue to run Mondays to Fridays between 9.30am to 5.30pm, and is available to people with mobility problems and the over 60s.
The weekday service is supported by GMITA, while the extension to the weekend service is being funded by Oldham Council using contributions from the developer of the supermarket.
Councillor David White, chairman of GMITA’s bus network and GMPTE services committee, said: “Door-to-door services are an essential part of our public transport network as they give access to shopping and other activities for people who cannot get to commercial bus services.
“We have worked in conjunction with Oldham Council to provide this weekend service for residents of Chadderton, Royton and Shaw, and we will review its effectiveness in 12 months’ time.
“We encourage Oldham residents to spread the word about Oldham Shopping Link by letting their families and friends know about it.”
Councillor John Dillon, Oldham Council’s representative on the GMITA, said: “This is an excellent service and one that will be of great benefit to residents who may have difficulties getting out and about at weekends.
“This provides a cheap and convenient way for people to do their weekly shopping and then be returned straight to their doorsteps.”
The costs are £2.20 adult single fare (£1.10 concessionary), or £4 return (£2 concessionary). Journeys must be pre-booked, and passengers should call 0800 018 2333 the day before they want to travel.
