I WAS interested to read the comments of Mr T.A.Bell regarding Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority's proposals for a high quality busway between Leigh and Manchester (Waiting for the train! Journal Mailbox March 26).

His letter raised a number of issues which I would like to clarify for him and other readers in the Leigh area.

The Authority and GMPTE believe a bus based solution to be the best way of providing a high quality public transport link between Leigh and Manchester and reached this view having fully examined all the alternatives.

Work carried out by consultants indicated that construction of a heavy rail line would be very expensive and that the revenue from the line would be insufficient to cover train operating costs.

The Authority and GMPTE will be carrying out extensive public consultation during the summer when a consultation brochure describing the proposals will be widely circulated door-to-door in the Leigh, Tyldesley and Ellenbrook areas.

Public meetings are also being arranged and the possibility of a travelling exhibition is also being investigated. At this time, Mr Bell, and any other interested parties, will have the opportunity to make known their views about the scheme.

Nothing will be decided until the Authority has considered the consultation responses.

If it is decided to proceed with the busway it is likely that the Secretary of State for Transport will call a public inquiry to hear the case for and against the proposal for that part of the scheme which it intended would be a guided busway. The Public Inquiry process also includes public consultation.

The Authority will, of course, keep everyone in the area informed of the scheme's progress.

Jane Nearney

Public Affairs Manager

GMPTE

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