Stagecoach hit back after councillor route claim

A bus company has furiously refuted claims from a councillor that one of its routes in Tameside is being withdrawn – and branded it as ‘misinformation’.

At last week’s full council meeting, Droylsden East ward councillor David Mills told colleagues that ‘in the next few months or so’, the 231 service – which serves his ward – would be cut.

But Stagecoach bosses say that is ‘absolutely untrue’ and that they had no plans to make changes to the service, which runs between Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester.

Coun Mills made the comments as he outlined his support for the proposals for re-regulation of the region’s bus network, which are currently out to consultation.

He told members: “We need to reconnect these communities that have been brutally cut off by the savage, self-serving bus companies.”

A Stagecoach Manchester spokesman said: “At a recent council meeting, which has since been covered widely by local press, Droylsden East ward councillor, David Mills, stated the 231 Stagecoach Manchester service is being withdrawn.

“We can confirm that this is absolutely untrue and the 231 service will continue to run as normal.

“We are extremely worried this misinformation is being spread for the benefit of the campaign which seeks to introduce bus franchising, a move which will cost taxpayers in excess of £130m.

“Furthermore, it is unnecessarily alarming the thousands of customers who regularly use the 231 service for the benefit of wider political agendas.

“We will be writing to Coun Mills to ensure he is clear there is no change to the 231 service and to make sure his ward has the correct information.

“If anyone has any concerns about bus services, we are always open to clarify or discuss any rumoured or factual route changes.”

The cost to franchise the network has been priced at £134.5m over four years by local officials, with some of that coming from existing grants.

But just under £23m is currently budgeted to come from council tax rises – equating to an £18.20 hike on a Band D bill by 2024.

Private bus companies which oppose franchising are campaigning for an alternative ‘partnership’ model through the umbrella group ‘OneBus’.

Gary Nolan, chief executive of OneBus, says their £100m partnership proposals would transform the bus system quicker than franchising, and without ‘additional cost’ for taxpayers.

A public consultation into the proposals to re-regulate Greater Manchester’s buses went live on Monday – and runs until January 8.