IN response to the letter from Eric Hyland about bus operations in Bolton.

It should be remembered that bus services have been deregulated since 1984 with the exception of London. It will come as no surprise to learn that there are more than 35% fewer car journeys in the capital, because of cheaper fares and more frequent regulated bus services.

This means that local bus services are either commercially operated (for profit) or subsidised by TfGM (usually when there is no other alternative service and a need is proved i.e. evening).

I can confirm that no bus operator receives a grant from either Bolton Council or TfGM.

Regrettably the withdrawal of 519 commercial service by First Group has followed the usual pattern, where the operator decides that the route is no longer profitable and either notifies the Traffic Commissioner of their intention to stop running it or alters the route. Providing they give the notice required by legislation, nobody is able to prevent this from happening. Currently there are no contracts, bus operators will continue to provide services so long as they can return a profit from them. First Bus did give the required notice and did consult.

As the council spokesperson on Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, I can confirm that very strenuous efforts by me and officers of TfGM have been made to find alternatives to replace the lost service along Chorley Old Road. These have included trying to get Stagecoach to run their 125 service into and out of Johnson Fold. Unfortunately they have refused to do so even on a limited basis. They say that they do not want to reduce the attractiveness of the high frequency service currently provided. In trying to be creative First Group was asked to consider running a limited service where a bus entered the estate as a 501 service and returned to Bolton as a 519 service, with a 519 doing the opposite return 501journey. They declined to consider this proposal.

We have also discussed with Stagecoach what their view would be if TfGM were to tender for a limited number of subsidised journeys that would run along Chorley Old Road through to Bolton. They have stated that any public subsidy given to provide a direct link would be competing with their commercial service to which they would strongly object. This effectively ties our hands under current legislation and we are not able to progress a solution but this demonstrates the urgent need to progress with bus reform in the conurbation.

Greater Manchester’s Labour Mayor Andy Burnham and the TfGM team are working hard to review and progress proposals for quality bus contracts contained in the new Bus Bill at the earliest opportunity. When we can overcome this hateful regime thrust upon the travelling public by the Tories and restore some sense of order into our bus system.

Councillor David Chadwick

Cabinet Member Highways and Transport