Bus bombshell – bus services face massive cuts or might be axed altogether

Borough news
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has warned of uncertainty facing Oldham and Manchester bus services after a report from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) “raised more questions” about the future of many services across Oldham and Manchester. The report (Bus Network Review) was considered on Friday 12 August. Many Oldham services – including the 180, 81, 181, 182, X84, 59, the 350 and the 425 – were due to see a reduction in services, with many set to be axed completely. TfGM have placed many of the affected routes out for tender starting in late October. Councillor Sykes said, “With the cost-of-living crisis raging, more and more people will be looking at their public transport options to try to keep costs down. TfGM have put some of…
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Bus Lane fine chaos

Bus Lane fine chaos

Borough news
Roadworks in Lees have led to a deluge of incorrectly issued bus lane fines says newly elected Liberal Democrat Councillor for Saddleworth West and Lees, Mark Kenyon. He has contacted the Council demanding that the fines are automatically cancelled. “We’re all sadly used to the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. But when one of those hands is slapping £60 fines on people, patience quickly wears thin and something needs to be done. “To add further irritation, people, already busy enough as it is, are being forced to take the time to appeal a decision that wasn’t their fault. To say it sticks in a lot of peoples’ throats is a bit of an understatement.” Mark Kenyon believes that all the fines from a certain date…
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Lib Dems commit to £2bn for hydrogen bus fleet revolution

Lib Dems commit to £2bn for hydrogen bus fleet revolution

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have announced that they would create a £2 billion fund to oversee the conversion of every bus fleet in England to hydrogen or electric powered vehicles. Liberal Democrats have proposed a £20 billion “Clean Air Fund”, which not only includes money to convert buses, but also to fund more bus routes and invest in walking and cycling. The policy comes as the party has promised to ‘decarbonise england, creating greener, cleaner communities’ ahead of the May local elections. They are also calling for the conversion of the rail network to ultra-low-emission technology by 2035 as part of a significant investment in public transport. Much of England’s buses are diesel powered, which is responsible for the high levels of particulate matter found in air pollution. The funding would…
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Saddleworth plan ignored with bus cuts

Borough news, Campaigns
Despite strong and repeated representations from Saddleworth Liberal Democrats, Transport for Greater Manchester have gone ahead with bus cuts to subsidised bus services in Saddleworth. The 353, 354 & 355 have been scrapped and partially replaced by 356 Saddleworth Rambler which no longer serves Greenfield Station. Instead it is rerouted from Uppermill along Bridge Street, Carr Lane, Queensway, Wellington Road, Chew Valley Road, Shaw Hall Bank Road, Church Road and High Grove Road to Mossley Road and then to Top Mossley and Ashton Liberal Democrat Councillor for Saddleworth North Garth Harkness said: “Important areas will now have no service, and the new links are poor. I raised concerns about this but I was given reassurances that it would not be as bad as we thought. Instead it is worse as…
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First Bus sale a chance to create a First-Class Bus Service, says Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has responded to recent reports in the national and transport press that First Bus Group has put its Manchester operation up for sale.  Councillor Sykes also represents Oldham Council on the Transport for Greater Manchester committee. According to Passenger Transport, in 2012/13 the division had a £101 million turnover and made £3.5 million profit.  However, by 2017/18 revenues had fallen to £86m, and the Manchester operation made a loss of £5.8m.  National media reports suggest the business could be sold for as little as £20 million with vehicles sold to one or more competing operators, along with depots at Bolton, Bury and Oldham. Commenting, Councillor Sykes said:  “The consistent feedback received from my constituents, who are…
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