A quartet of carol singers are helping to give Metrolink a festive feel this week by singing on board the trams. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) arranged for the quartet, from the University of Manchester Chorus, to accompany passengers travelling on Metrolink from Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 December.

Michael Renshaw, GMPTE’s Interim Service Delivery Director, said: “We hope the carol singers have helped to bring Christmas cheer to passengers and have encouraged people to use Metrolink over the festive season. “Some people are put off using public transport when they’re doing their Christmas shopping as they’ve got lots of bags to carry. But travelling on Metrolink can actually be an easier way of getting about. “Metrolink passengers don’t get stuck in traffic jams or have to worry about finding somewhere to park. All of the tram stops also have ramps or lifts so you avoid having to walk up and down steps.”

Greater Manchester’s Yellow School Bus services are reducing congestion, improving pupil behaviour and boosting school attendance, according to the latest report heard by transport bosses. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) now funds the services to 22 schools, providing safe and reliable journeys for more than 2000 pupils. Councillors heard that the Yellow School Buses have made a major impact on the school run, taking more than 265,000 car-miles off the road this school year. And antisocial behaviour on school buses has reduced by 75% at schools that have the yellow buses. Schools have also praised the services for improving attendance records.

One Yellow School Bus currently runs to Bury Church school and the scheme has proved a hit with pupils and parents. Bury spokesperson for GMPTA, Councillor Andrew Garner, said: “Yellow School Buses are a safe and reliable way of getting pupils to and from school. “We already know from anecdotal evidence that they are popular, but this report really highlights the benefits of the service. “The services are really helping to tackle local congestion caused by the school run, as well as offering a safe travelling environment for pupils. I’m sure other road users appreciate the services too as they take so many cars off the road each morning and afternoon. “We have bid for government funding to buy more Yellow School Buses and reports like this really illustrate what a strong case there is for expanding the service.” Pupils using Yellow School Bus services have to sign up to a code of conduct, use the same seatbelt-equipped seats every day and have regular drivers to help build a good working relationship. All Yellow School Bus drivers have undergone an extensive training programme run by GMPTE, which includes training in customer care, first aid, disability awareness, health and safety issues and conflict avoidance. A major expansion of Yellow School Bus services could be introduced at schools across Greater Manchester over the next four years if the bid to the government’s Transport Innovation Fund is successful. Two more vehicles are due to be introduced at schools in Wigan early in the new year, taking the number of Yellow School Buses in Greater Manchester to 36, running to 22 schools. To find out more about Yellow School Buses and for a full list of services visit www.yellowschoolbus.info

A Liberal Democrat amendment at last nights Council meeting finally exposed Bury Labour’s position on Congestion Charging when they failed to oppose the proposed Congestion Charging scheme.

A Liberal Democrat amendment called for the bid to the Governments Transport Innovation Fund to be supported but made it clear that Bury was opposed to the proposed Congestion Charging scheme, and called for a consultative referendum on the issue.

My colleague Cllr Richard Baum told the Council, “We need to send a message to the government that we will not stand for their bullying.  That we have been elected to stand up for what people want – a quality public transport system paid for through the taxes we have already paid, sustained through more users and leading to improvements all round. 

You can read the full text of the Lib Dem amendment here.

Upgrades to Metrolink carried out over the summer are being praised for making it easier for disabled people to travel around the region.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority is investing over £100 million on improvements to the Metrolink network, including new track, trams and ticket machines.

Nearly 4,000 tactile paving stones were laid at 22 platforms on the Bury and Altrincham lines as part of the track upgrades. New boarding points have also been created for people with wheelchairs or prams so that they know where to get on the trams.

Councillor Andrew Garner, Bury’s spokesperson on the Passenger Transport Authority, met members of the Baddac Access and Eye-openers groups at Radcliffe Metrolink stop on Thursday to see what impact the upgrades have had. He said: “We wanted to carry out as much work as possible while sections of the Metrolink network were closed to replace worn-out track. We’ve always tried to make Metrolink as accessible as possible for disabled people. I’m pleased we were able to improve the stops to make it easier for people to use the service.

“We upgraded nearly twenty miles of track during the summer and we will continue to make improvements to Metrolink in the future. We’ll soon be installing new ticket machines, and we’ll be adding eight new trams to the network in 2009 to relieve overcrowding at busy times.”

Michelle Chadwick from Baddac Access said: “I’m visually impaired so the Metrolink improvements have made it much easier for me to travel on the network. The new tactile paving stones and boarding points have helped to reassure me that I’m standing in the right place while I wait for a tram.

”I tend to travel on Metrolink every couple of days and have really noticed the difference the new track has made. My guide dog didn’t used to like riding on the trams but its now much smoother. I’m sure I’ll use Metrolink more often in the future.”

Engineers used nearly 40 miles of rail, 60,000 tonnes of stone and 40,000 sleepers to upgrade the Metrolink track during the summer. They also re-waterproofed the Metrolink bridge over the M60 at Besses o’ th’ Barn, and replaced a road bridge over the Metrolink line in Radcliffe.

The Metrolink network has been designed to be accessible for everyone. All of the stops have a ramp or lift, and the trams have special sections for people with wheelchairs or prams. The new tactile paving stones make it easier for blind and partially-sighted people to find the edge of platforms.

Further information about public transport services in Greater Manchester is available at www.gmpte.com, or by calling Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 (calls cost 10p per minute from landlines). Lines are open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 8pm at weekends.

Sorry for the lack of activity on this site in the last couple of months.  I started a new job at the begining of October and my feet haven’t touched the ground since!  I now work for Andrew Stunell MP who is the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.  My new role compliments my work as your local councillor and gives me far more insight into the role of Local Government and how it affects our community.

I was priviliged to be among the passengers trying out the new Metrolink track on Thursday morning when the Bury line reopened.

Two local MP’s joined myself and Councillor Roger Jones, Chair of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, on a tram ride from Bury to Manchester. They promised this summer’s track upgrades would be just the start of a multi-million pound investment in Metrolink.

Millions of pounds will be invested in Metrolink over the next few years and I am delighted this first stage of improvements has been completed. Improvements to stops and ticket machines will follow in the near future, and adding eight extra trams to the network in 2009.

I was amazed how much smoother and quieter a tram journey now is, it is a vast improvement on the old track. Some of the Metrolink track on the Bury and Altrincham lines was more than 50 years old as it was used by trains before Metrolink opened in 1992. Nearly 20 miles of track has been replaced during the summer, and the platform surfaces have been upgraded to make it easier to get on and off the trams.

Further information about public transport services in Greater Manchester is available at www.gmpte.com, or by calling Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 (calls cost 10p per minute from landlines). Lines are open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 8pm at weekends.

A Bury charity is to receive £20,000 to keep on helping people with learning disabilities build the skills and confidence they need to use public transport.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) today agreed to continue funding a ‘travel training’ initiative run by Bury People First.

The innovative ‘Out and About Scheme’ began last year after getting a start-up grant from GMPTA. Since then the training has helped 14 people across the borough gain more independence.

Some needed short-term help to familiarise them with how public transport works in their area and to give them the confidence to use it alone. Others have benefited from a one-to-one personalised training programme over several months.

The funding, which will help the scheme continue for another year, was agreed at the GMPTA Policy Committee earlier today.

Bury spokesperson for GMPTA, Councillor Andrew Garner said: “Bury People First is one of the first charities in Greater Manchester to run this type of travel training scheme and I am delighted it has been such a success. I look forward to seeing them give even more people the skills and confidence to travel on public transport in the coming year.”

More than 100 people across Greater Manchester have now benefited from travel training after three ‘pilot projects’ were launched last year in Bury, Salford and Stockport with funding from GMPTA.

Further information about the grants available to voluntary organisations to set up travel training schemes can be found in the Accessible Transport section of the GMPTE website (www.gmpte.com) or by calling GMPTE on 0161 244 1259.

In March 2007 the Liberal Democrat team on Bury Council successfully proposed a budgetary amendment which extended the “Blue Bin” recycling scheme to every house in the Borough.

The success of the scheme was confirmed in a response to a question our colleague Cllr Tim Pickstone raised at the Full Council meeting last night. 1,020 Tonnes of recyclables were collected in July 2007 - the first month after the Blue-Bin roll-out up from 767 Tonnes in July 2006 - a massive 33% increase!

Its excellent to see such a great response from the public to the recycling initiative. The Lib Dem’s are already asking when the scheme can be made fortnightly for everyone. My colleague Cllr Richard Baum also asked for a report on the small number of households who’ve not yet received their bins (mostly farms, but a few areas with restricted lorry access). I’ll let you know this information when its received.

LIBERAL Democrats in Bury have welcomed plans that will make Britain a zero carbon country by the middle of the century.

The plans will be debated by Liberal Democrats at the party’s conference in Brighton on 17th September. Members from Bury will be going to the conference to back the proposals.

“Liberal Democrats have long argued that we have to tackle the problem of pollution and damage to the planet. The proposals put forward by Sir Menzies Campbell that we will debate at conference will mean that by the middle of this century, Britain will be a zero carbon country.

“That will mean that we will be producing overall no extra carbon dioxide, the main polluting gas that is leading to global climate change. Increasing amounts of carbon dioxide we are currently producing are almost certainly the cause of the extreme weather conditions we have suffered over the summer.

“Liberal Democrats have made the environment the main feature of our conference later this month. Going green means changing for the better many of our activities. And it means the Government changing policies as well. Under Labour for example, Gordon Brown has cut the tax burden on pollution, whilst putting up the tax burden on people.

“That means under Gordon Brown it has become cheaper to pollute. I strongly believe that people in Bury will benefit from the Lib Dems’ green tax switch. At our conference we will debate plans to switch the tax burden from people to pollution.

Engineers lifted a new 50 tonne road bridge into place over the Bury Metrolink line on Wednesday as part of a £100 million project to improve the network.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) replaced the bridge, on Withins Lane in Radcliffe, during this summer’s work to upgrade nearly 20 miles of track on the Bury and Altrincham lines.

The Metrolink bridge which goes over the M60 at Besses o’ th’ Barn has also been renovated, and the platform surfaces have been upgraded to make it easier to get on and off the trams.

Paul Griffiths, GMPTE’s Projects Director, said: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to replace the Withins Lane bridge while the Bury and Altrincham lines have been closed. The work to upgrade the Metrolink network is running to schedule and the Bury line is due to reopen in mid September.

“This is just the start of a multi-million pound investment in Metrolink. We have ordered eight new trams to tackle overcrowding, and we will be upgrading the ticket machines in the near future.”

The Bury Metrolink line is currently closed between Bury and Manchester Victoria, and the Altrincham line is closed between Altrincham and Cornbrook. The Bury line is due to reopen on Thursday 13 September and the Altrincham line is due to reopen on Tuesday 28 August.

Liberal Democrat Councillor and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority spokesperson Cllr Andrew Garner said “This is great news for Metrolink users and I am looking forward to travelling on the new line when it re-opens next month”

A company that ignored Bury Council’s warning to stop excavating near
protected trees has been ordered to pay £19,000 for wilfully damaging them.

At a hearing at Bury Magistrates court earlier this month Thomas Barnes PLC
pleaded guilty to two offences contravening the town and country planning
act while working on the site of the former Thorndyke House, Bury New Road,
Preswich.

Magistrates heard that in October 2002 a tree preservation order was issued
by Bury Council in respect of nine trees at the site in Prestwich.

Nearly two years later in April 2004 landscaping plans were submitted as
part of a development of 10 flats on the grounds.

Bury council’s landscape architect Michael Dowd was concerned that a
proposed wall and pathway could damage some of the protected tress’ roots
and he contacted the developers. They then submitted revised planes, which
were approved by the council.

The officers took evidential photographs and warned the site manager
regarding the condition of the trees, that the area must not be excavated
any further and that areas should be re-instated rapidly and adequate tree
protection measures put in place immediately.

Examination found that the damage caused rendered both trees beyond saving
as living specimens and the weight of the structure could not be supported
by what remained of the roots and could collapse with serious health and
safety consequences. Following correspondence between the council and
representatives of the company, proceedings were started.

The magistrates decided that the most serious aspect of the case was that
the company continued with excavation work despite the council’s warning in
October 2005 that it was causing damage to the trees, and told to reinstate
the ground.

They took into account the previous good record of the company and fined the
company £8000 on each offence giving a total fine of £16, 000 with legal and
investigation costs of £3000. The grand total was £19 000 to be paid within
28 days. The company have the option of appealing against this decision
within 21 days.

Bury Council continue to pursue the company to arrange for replacement trees
to be put in place.

Councillor Ann Garner said “It is imperative that the company replace these trees as soon as possible, the protection of our environment is more important than developers profits”

Liberal Democrat Councillor and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority spokesperson Cllr Andrew Garner is calling on local bus operators to use their common sense when dealing with free bus travel for the elderly on cross-boundary routes. At present, buses such as the X43 from Manchester to Burnley are only free as far as Rawtenstall. Bus operators then have the power to demand that elderly travellers disembark and wait for the next bus to arrive, before paying to continue their journey.

Cllr Garner said “It is absolute madness that these elderley people are forced to get off the bus and wait by themselves for up to half an hour for the next service. Many of them are vulnerable and alone, and are being left at a bus stop whilst a perfectly suitable bus drives off in the direction they are travelling! For a lot of our elderly people, bus travel is the only way to visit family and friends. We should make services as welcoming as possible, and this does just the opposite.”

At present, individual bus drivers can use their discretion, and let their elderly travellers back onto the same bus, if they get off at the boundary and join the back of the queue. But many passengers are not so lucky, and are told that it is against the rules for them to carry on their journey on the same bus. GMPTE have said that no policy changes will be made because all travel for the elderly becomes free in April 2008, regardless of distance. But Bury’s Liberal Democrat GMPTA representatives are concerned that this is still eight months away.

Cllr Garner continued “I am not asking for the whole of the journey to be free. Passengers are more than happy to pay for the journey from the boundary of Bury onto Burnley. What I want is common sense from bus operators, to instruct their drivers never to force an elderley person off the bus simply because they are no longer in Bury. With Winter just a few months away, we should not be making frail passengers get off a bus and wait in the cold for the next one.”

Residents who live alongside the Metrolink line need to be aware that the contractors currently working on renewing the track have informed the Council that some limited work may be needed during the night. Your local councillors have protested against this proposal, and we have received assurances that no heavy cutting or noisy work will take place. 

Residents should only have to endure some noise for one night in the majority of cases, but on occasion there will be areas which are inconvenienced for two nights. Please contact one of your councillors if work is disturbing you during the night and we will report this immediately to the relevant authorities.

The proposed areas and dates for night working are given below:

Thursday 16^th August – Prestwich to Heaton Park

Friday 17th August  –  Heaton Park to Bowker Vale

Saturday 18^th August – Bowker Vale

Thursday 23rd August  –  Prestwich to Heaton Park  

Friday 24^th August – Heaton Park to Bowker Vale

Saturday 25^th August – Bowker Vale to Queens Road

Wednesday 29^th August – Bowker Vale to Crumpsall

The work will take place in the above mentioned locations between the hours of 10pm and 10am each night and every effort will be made to keep un-necessary noise down to a minimum.  For more details about the track upgrades programme, please phone 0161 228 7811 or visit www.gmpte.com.  Alternatively call Carillion Control on 01788 866 080.

Bury Council met this week in its first “Emergency Full Council” meeting for many years.  The Council was called by the Labour group on the basis of ideas floated by the Conservative Administration on Bury Council to reduce the capacity of the soon to be built Radcliffe Riverside School from 900 children to 600.

Liberal Democrats believe that full consultation with parents and the community must take place before any decision is made. Whist we weren’t able to support the Labour Party in suggesting that a decision for a 900 capacity school had to be made there and then we did propose an amendment on behalf of the Lib Dem Group guaranteeing that Radcliffe Riverside does get built, and that work starts straight away for the planned 2009 opening. Thankfully the Lib Dem proposal received support from all parties.

In Prestwich many of us have painful memories of the discussions when one of our local schools was threatened with closure a year ago (Prestwich Arts College on Heys Road). We said then that there should be a place in a Prestwich high school for every Prestwich child that wanted one, the same must be said for Radcliffe.

I have sent this letter to the local papers:

Further to Laura Keay’s letter in last weeks letters pages.

Despite Tony Blair no longer being in office I see locally the spin doctors are still at work.

Local Labour party trying desperately to distance themselves from the Congestion Charge row.  A few facts to note.

The Liberal Democrat Group on Bury Council put a proposal to the last full council meeting calling for Bury to reject Congestion Charging and vote against the bid at the AGMA meeting.  Our proposal was rejected because both the Labour and Conservative Groups voted against it.  So any blame for the way Bury voted in this issue lies fairly and squarely on the shoulders of Bury’s Labour and Conservative Councillors.  I also find labours stance locally somewhat hypocritical when it is Labour that has majority control of AGMA, the body that made the decision to submit the bid.  So to try and blame anyone other than themselves is somewhat deceitful.

Cllr Andrew Garner
Deputy Leader Liberal Democrat Group