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Have your say on guided busway

27/11/2002

A ROW into a controversial multi-million pound transport scheme will come to a head when a public inquiry opens next week.

The inquiry, into the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive's (GMPTE) plans for a special bus route from Leigh to Manchester, will open in Tyldesley on Tuesday and is expected to run for three days.

Objectors have voiced fierce opposition to the plans since they were first mooted four years ago, claiming the scheme will create traffic chaos in parts of Salford.

The plan is for the buses to follow the old railway line from Leigh before travelling down special priority bus lanes down the East Lancs from Ellenbrook, and eventually joining existing bus lanes along The Crescent.

An inquiry into the £30.3m scheme's effects on Leigh has already been held, but the GMPTE is now applying for permission to open the bus lanes, and a government inspector will make a decision on both enquiries.

GMPTE bosses believe nearly 2m people will use the service every year and say it will not effect existing traffic. They also claim the route will boost the areas it cuts through, making it easier for people to take up jobs along the route.

However, Adrian Dunning, spokesman for the six residents groups opposing the scheme said: "We think the bus lanes will have a detrimental effect on people who have to cross Salford."

Bill Tyson, chairman of the Transport Management Group, a GMPTE subsidiary, said: "The lanes will speed up bus journeys and also be available for use by taxis and community transport vehicles. We have spent a long time in designing the bus lanes so they will not increase journey times for other traffic.

"The number of visitors using the Eccles tram route has increased over the years, a lot of these are people who used to work elsewhere being able to get out to Salford. We think this could have the same effect."