BOOKIES reckon its odds-on Leigh Busway will go through.

"But it's one bet I'd like to lose", says turf tipster Pat Lummis.

The man who runs bookmakers' shops in Tyldesley and Atherton feels the bridleway bus route from Leigh through Tyldesley will be railroaded through.

After attending last week's meeting at Tyldesley St George's Central School, where transport chiefs revealed busway plans, he told The Journal:

"No matter what they say we're definitely being fobbed-off with second best."

And he believes if transport chiefs are serious about making positive steps to upgrade the nation's travel network they should think Metrolink.

"If they are looking to the future they should be serious about extending Manchester's Metrolink, not only to Leigh, but to Warrington and St Helens.

"Most people feel the decision is cut and dried and these meetings are being held purely to pay lip service to the public.

"How can they justify the busway proposals? They did a survey of 500 people and found 70 per cent in favour.

"Yet at two meetings in Leigh and Tyldesley around 98 per cent of the 300 who attended have all been against.

"They say the only people who attend these meetings are those who object and assume that everyone else is in favour. But if I felt strongly in favour of something I would turn up."

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