IT may still be more than eight months away, but transport bosses are anxious to hear of any plans for the new Millennium.

And they are urging Bury organisations and businesses to assist them in the planning of public transport services over the festive period.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) wants to know urgently of any information about activities already planned for this Christmas or New Year.

Transport chiefs stress that by learning of events early enough, it could help shape their timetable of services to ensure there is sufficient cover for later this year. The man behind the appeal is Councillor Joe Clarke, who is chairman of the GMPTA.

He said: "We worked hard to encourage local transport operators to run services over the Christmas and New Year periods last year, and we were successful in delivering the most comprehensive network of bus services in recent years."

Looking ahead to the festive period, Coun Clarke added: "While we cannot guarantee similar provision this year, we will again be talking regularly with operators in an attempt to secure services over the festive period."

Now, organisations and businesses in Bury and elsewhere in Greater Manchester are being urged to make the authority aware of their plans.

Coun Clarke said: "It is vital, therefore, that our officers know at the earliest possible date of any Millennium events or retail activity that would alter demand for public transport services in a particular area."

The authority emphasise that such proposals are required "as a matter of urgency."

This is a topic which the GMPTA will be addressing and looking closely at during the remainder of the year.

Further reports on the provision of public transport over the Christmas and New Year period will be made to future meetings of the transport network committee.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.