Have your say on Oldham buses

Thousands of people hop on them every day but, unfortunately, the number of residents using buses is falling both locally and nationally.

To increase usage and improve the service for local people, Oldham Council are inviting everyone throughout the borough to voice their views through a consultation on how they think buses should be run in their local area.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a regular bus passenger or rarely use the bus, everyone’s views are important and will inform a future decision on how your buses are run in Oldham.

You have until Wednesday 8 January 2020 to submit your views.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise, Councillor Sean Fielding, whose own dad is a bus driver, said:

“Currently in Greater Manchester, bus companies decide their own routes, timetables, tickets and standards. This is great for the companies, but not so much for local people here in Oldham. 

“We now have a chance to run buses differently and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is proposing a franchising scheme.

“This means that decisions around the services will be made at a Greater Manchester level and not in London, hundreds of miles away from the borough.

“This consultation will give us Oldhamers a voice and a say in the future running of this vital form of transport.

“We are notoriously bad at responding to consultations in Oldham, but I would really urge people to get involved and have their say. Public transport is vital for so many of our residents, helping them get to work, appointments and to connect with friends and family, I really hope residents make their voice heard.

“The new scheme will also tie in with our Green Oldham initiative, encouraging residents and organisations in Oldham to make environmentally conscious choices.

“We want to make Greater Manchester’s public transport system work together across the whole of the ten boroughs and this is the first step in making that happen.”

To have your say, visit the consultation page at www.gmconsult.org

Consultation documents and the proposals are available at libraries and council buildings across our borough or you can contact gmbusconsultation@greatermancester-ca.gov.uk or call 0161 244 1100 for the survey in alternative formats.