Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has welcomed the news that more than 60 bus routes and services linking communities across Greater Manchester have been saved from being withdrawn or having their frequencies reduced.
The news means that the 7/7A route serving Heaton Chapel, Reddish and Dane Bank will be continuing on the current frequency.
An estimated cost of £15 million per annum was identified to continue to run the services, with funding identified from a combination of existing budgets and additional funding from the government.
TfGM’s intervention comes ahead of the planned franchising of the bus service. From next year, TfGM will begin bringing bus services back under public control, enabling prices to be capped, and services to be improved.
Commenting on the saving of the 7/7A route, Andrew Gwynne said:
“This is fantastic news. I’m very grateful that Transport for Greater Manchester have stepped in to ensure communities right across Greater Manchester remain connected, and that the Government has agreed to provide the additional funding required.
“The 7/7A route serves Heaton Chapel, Reddish and Dane Bank. Scrapping this route would have severed a vital transport link for local people.
“Now we can look forward to cheaper travel and a publicly-owned bus service as Greater Manchester leads the way in revolutionising our public transport.”