A BOLTON consortium has been awarded £30,000 in government money to develop an environmentally friendly travel scheme.

The Bolton Perfect Journey Partnership includes organisations such as First Manchester, Bolton Council, Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton Institute and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.

This public-private partnership has become the first in Greater Manchester to be awarded cash for a project of this kind.

It covers the corridor connecting Farnworth to Bolton town centre via Royal Bolton Hospital -- the route served by First Manchester's GOLDservice 501.

The central aim is to minimise the current level of sole occupancy car journeys on the route by encouraging employees of the partner organisations to make greater use of alternatives such as walking, cycling, using a GOLDservice bus or car sharing.

There will be a focus on changing individual behaviour through delivery of better travel information and production of personalised journey plans.

Mr Russell Gard, First Manchester's divisional commercial director, said: "We recognise the need to attack the barriers that presently dissuade large numbers of people from travelling by bus.

Effective

"We are convinced that effective partnerships with large employers represents an important way forward."

The partners have identified specific objectives which they would like to achieve and savings in car mileage will be measured.

Participating staff will be asked to outline their individual experiences and the information will be used to develop future initiatives.

Cllr Guy Harkin, Deputy Leader of Bolton Council and vice-chair of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said: "The Passenger Transport Authority is committed to encouraging people to move out of their cars and on to public transport.

"This initiative will give us the opportunity to see what can be achieved by working closely with the other agencies involved.

"I am confident that by placing emphasis on making people aware of the alternatives and ensuring that high quality, accurate information on these alternatives is available, we will be able to curb traffic growth on this corridor."

The £30,000 funding is part of the 2000/2001 Local Transport Capital Settlement awarded by the DETR.

The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities was allocated £4.5 million in recogniton of an initiative known as the Charging Development Partnership.

Local authorities were allowed to bid for these funds to develop demonstration travel plan projects but the Bolton Perfect Journey Partnership was the only one to be successful.