On Air Now Dave Sweetmore 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Now Playing R.E.M. The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite

Councillor slams bus service cuts in Saddleworth

A local councillor feels transport bosses have ignored concerns raised when pressing ahead with cuts to bus services in Saddleworth.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has replaced the 353, 354 and 355 buses with the 356 'Saddleworth Rambler' (pictured).  

But, as Cllr Garth Harkness points out, it no longer serves Greenfield Station and has instead been rerouted from Uppermill along Bridge Street, Carr Lane, Queensway, Wellington Road, Chew Valley Road, Shaw Hall Bank Road, Church Road and High Grove Road to Mossley Road, and then to Top Mossley and Ashton. 

The Oldham/Denshaw 407 bus service is also being replaced by the 356, which will operate from Oldham to Ashton via Denshaw, Delph, Dobcross, Diggle, Uppermill, the edge of Greenfield, Friezland and Top Mossley.

Cllr Harkness claims TfGM have gone ahead with what he describes as "cuts to the subsidised bus services" despite "strong and repeated representations from Saddleworth Liberal Democrats". 

But TfGM say in response that the changes "improve and expand links" and "simplify the local network and reduce duplication". 

Cllr Harkness, Lib Dem councillor for Saddleworth North, said: "The Saddleworth Rambler has proven highly successful and I am proud to have been part of the project which introduced it. This came out of a detailed piece of work around transport needs in Saddleworth.

"I raised these concerns but was told it would not be as bad as we think. I was given reassurances and now it is worse as it won’t serve the train station - one of its key purposes. 

"In many cases, important clusters of population will have no service and the new links are poor in comparison. All the talk of Greater Manchester taking control of the buses again. They already do on these routes and they decimated them." 


Cllr Garth Harkness next to the Saddleworth Rambler bus

Former Council leader and transport professor, Dr Richard Knowles, added: "Hundreds of people living in three large areas of Delph and Uppermill will lose all their bus services: Palinwood Road/Delph Lane area in Delph, Wellmeadow estate/Church Road and Grove Road/Rush Hill Road areas of Uppermill.

"The TfGM Committee report when they approved these bus cuts made no mention of 356 Saddleworth Rambler no longer serving Greenfield Station or the huge number of residents who would lose all of their bus services." 

In response, a spokesperson for TfGM said: "It is vital that we strike a balance with TfGM-funded services, ensuring we serve as many people as possible and maintain vital transport links – while also ensuring we provide value to the taxpayer and deliver in the most cost-effective way.

"By introducing the changes to the Saddleworth Rambler, we are looking to build on the success of the service by improving and expanding links, simplifying the local network and reducing duplication.

"Reducing the service from four vehicles to three - one 15 seater and two 21 seaters - should strike the required balance between the capacity and the manoeuvrability of the vehicle given the rural nature of the area served by these buses.

"While we are confident that the revised services will meet demand in the long term, it’s important to reiterate that people should currently only be travelling if absolutely essential due to the Covid-19 pandemic." 

Anyone requiring further support, particularly those needing to make essential journeys such as NHS staff and key workers, should contact TfGM Customer Services on 0161 244 1000 or email customer.relations@tfgm.com

More from Oldham Reporter

Weather

  • Thu

    9°C

  • Fri

    12°C

  • Sat

    13°C

  • Sun

    14°C

  • Mon

    11°C