Free shuttle buses planned

FREE buses will run in Oldham town centre as a new Tory/Lib-dem administration distances itself from congestion charging plans.

The plans for Metroshuttle-type services, which have proved so popular to shoppers and workers in Manchester city centre, are part of a package announced by the new leaders of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority in the run up to a referendum on road pricing.

They would be in addition to Metrolink trams which will run along Union Street if the people of Greater Manchester accept congestion charging to help pay for £3 billion of public transport improvements.

Labour lost control of the PTA for the first time ever following the defeat of Salford councillor Roger Jones and a poor showing elsewhere in the May elections.

Labour remain the biggest party but its nominee for PTA chairman, Manchester councillor Andrew Fender, was voted down by the Lib-Dem and Conservative members.

Trafford’s Tory deputy leader Mat Colledge, one of Greater Manchester’s youngest councillors, took the chairmanship with veteran Manchester Lib-Dem Keith Whitmore as vice-chairman and chairman of the powerful policy committee.

Former Oldham council leader Richard Knowles, remains leader of the Lib-Dem group — which will take the chairmanship next year.

Councillor Colledge said afterwards: “The GMPTA will now move forward into a new era of fresh thinking on the delivery of public transport across the whole of the Manchester area. The loss of Labour control comes at a significant time as Labour push forward with their proposals for the controversial congestion charging scheme.”

Trafford was the first authority to object to congestion charging but Councillor Colledge denied that his council’s position caused any problem to his chairmanship.

Councillor Whitmore said: “It is time for new ideas on improving public transport throughout Greater Manchester. For example, proposals should be developed for free town centre Metroshuttle bus services in borough centres and for orbital bus routes to serve non-radial travel patterns.

“Consistent countywide enforcement is needed of no car parking/no car driving in bus lanes.

“To improve security and safety for passengers, more police presence needs to be secured on buses and trams and at stops. These are just some of the ways of improving public transport that we wish to see implemented.”

He also insisted that the PTA should not get involved with promoting the congestion charge. “Roger Jones paid the price for that,” he said.