The meeting will be attended by Dave Longmate (First Bus).
Minutes:
The meeting was attended by David Longmate, Brendan Jones, Alan Branan and David Rutherage from First Bus to talk about bus services in the Whitefield and Unsworth area. Councillor Noel Bayley also attended the meeting in his capacity as a Council representative on Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
The meeting was informed of the proposed changes that would be taking place to bus services within Whitefield and Unsworth starting on 12 April 2015. The changes proposed related to the need to address the quality of the current services. The changes would affect the 92, 93, 95, 97 and 98 services. Details of the changes to services were circulated before the meeting.
Reference was made to rumours about the services to the Hillock estate and an assurance was given that the bus service was not being withdrawn. The 92 and 93 services had been monitored and the statistical evidence produced had identified that the service was not frequently used and was often delayed and could no longer be sustained as a commercial service. This would be replaced by the 97 service.
The Chair invited questions.
Mrs Taylor referred to the trialled 92 service to Pilsworth which enabled residents to access the medical centre and ASDA. This had been stopped as a result of the works undertaken by United Utilities on Croft Lane. The service was used with the likelihood of more users because of the employers located at Pilsworth.
It was reported that the statistical information did not reflect this view. The service was not being used sufficiently by people wanting to travel to the medical centre or to the ASDA supermarket for it to be sustained. The decline in use started about 18 months before the Croft Lane works had started. The trial was initially for 6 months which was extended for 12 months but the take up of the service did not develop.
Reference was made to the lack of late night services leaving Bury, in particular the 135 service which stopped running at 11:00pm. There were no other services to Whitefield after this time and the only other modes of public transport available were taxis and Metrolink. There are a lot of people who have to walk home from the centre of Bury because there is no bus. These included people who had been on a night out or who have been working.
It was reported that the cut off time for services had been 11:00pm for many years apart from Friday and Saturday evenings when the night bus service was provided. This has now been stopped due to budget related cuts.
In view of the comments made regarding the lack of a 135 bus service after 11:00pm, First undertook to look at extending the 135 service from Bury if there was sufficient demand, as suggested. It was stated that First wanted to meet its passengers face to face and discuss the services it provided to ensure the best service was available.
Councillor Bayley stated that First bus was a commercial operation and had looked strategically at the best way to link public transport services for the Whitefield and Unsworth area. It is noted that the proposals won’t suit everyone but it is not possible for services to be provided in all areas.
The information relating to the proposed routes would be circulated using the usual means and would be available on the First website and the TfGM.
The Chair also read out a letter she had received from Mrs Margaret Ashcroft.
It was agreed:
That the representatives be thanked for their attendance at the meeting and the proposals to bus services be noted.