THE people of Chew Moor and Lostock Junction have now had no bus service for nine days (it should have been six) due to roadworks on Junction Road West.

The 715 bus service in question operates into Bolton as normal up to White Horse, then Manchester Road, Snydal Way and Wigan Road. When passengers mattered this happened.

The inward bound bus connected at White Horse with a shuttle bus which would then operate via Chew Moor to Lostock Junction where the bus would turn round (ample turning area with a small bus).

The bus is then on time to replace the bus that is due from Bolton. By the time the bus reaches White Horse the passengers alight and catch the bus that has operated the diversion route.

The bus then turns round and connects with the next bus due in ten minutes. The people on the route would have had a near normal service towards Westhoughton and back. Anyone going to Bolton would have had a 15-minute wait for a train at Lostock Junction.

Walking to White Horse the other day I saw an elderly lady in her 80s who had been to Westhoughton shopping and caught the bus to White Horse, then she had to struggle with a shopping trolley to Chew Moor.

As someone who drove buses for over 30 years I have operated shuttle buses and rail replacement buses where efforts were put in so that the public had a service.

I think the fault lies in the fact that Bolton had its own Transport Committee who were familiar with local issues.

Eric Woods (Old Ribble driver) Chulsey Gate Lane Lostock