A NEW rail and bus interchange should be a priority for Bolton, a major town hall conference has been told.

Transport consultant Nicola Kane told a meeting of the region's transport bosses that the redevelopment of the Newport Street station is one of the major issues effecting travel in the borough.

work is also required to assess the need for a new town centre shuttle bus and to create safe and attractive pedestrian and cycle routes, she said.

Ms Kane, of consultants JMP, was employed by the council to carry out a survey of transport in the borough. She was speaking at the Bolton Transport Conference aimed at establishing a Bolton Transport Partnership made of parties interested in travel in the borough and beyond.

Ms Kane said: "There should be major emphasis on a new interchange.

"The rail station is one of the busiest outside of Manchester."

Plans for a major revamp of the station, to create a new interchange with the possible relocation of the bus station are being developed by transport bosses for 2010.

The study also found that eight per cent of people in Bolton used the bus to get to work while only 10.3 per cent walked or cycled.

This compared to 60 per cent who used a car to commute.

Research also found that commuters in similar-sized towns to Bolton, such as Oldham and Wigan, were more likely to find alternatives to the car.

Cllr David Wilkinson, executive member for environment at Bolton Council, said: "Transport is a major issue for any community.

"This is a real opportunity to establish some of the transport related issues we will look at over the next few years."