Local Link transport boost for Hollins and Unsworth

A new transport service will start running in Hollins and Unsworth this week, after Transport for Greater Manchester stepped in to fund and provide the ‘Local Link’.

From Sunday 28 October, the door-to-door service will run seven days a week from early morning to late at night. Anyone in the service area can use Local Link to travel locally and get out to health care services, shops, Metrolink and Bury Interchange.

The news follows bus operator First’s withdrawal of the 137 Bury to Manchester service earlier this year, which prompted local residents to petition for improved transport services.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “I’m very happy we have been able to step in and provide this much needed local transport service for the Hollins, Unsworth and Sunny Bank areas.

“Officers at TfGM and Bury Council are in talks with bus operator First to press for the reintroduction of the 137 service. I hope First will reconsider – or indeed another operator will identify an opportunity to develop services.

“In the meantime, Local Link will provide an affordable, easy to use public transport alternative for people to get out and about locally. I encourage people to make good use of the service so we can justify future funding to keep it on the road.”

TfGM has agreed to fund Local Link for a year-long trial, subject to review should the lost bus links be reinstated.

Local Link is a shared transport service, which will pick people up and drop them off wherever they want to go within the service area. Leaflets with detailed service information are being distributed locally.

To book a journey, passengers simply need to call Elton Bullitt Cars on 0161 763 1655 at least an hour before they want to travel. Several journeys can be booked at the same time for up to a week ahead.

Local Link will run through to 10.30pm seven days a week, with services starting at 6.30am Monday to Friday, 7.30am Saturdays and 9.30am Sundays.

Fares will be £2.00 for a single journey or £3.20 return. TfGM concessionary permit holders will pay half fare – £1 for a single journey or £1.60 return.

Over 300,000 journeys are made on Local Link services across Greater Manchester every year in areas where conventional public transport services are limited.

ENDS

Media contact: Becky Marr on 0161 244 1055 or email mediarelations@tfgm.com

Notes to Editors

1. Transport for Greater Manchester is an executive body of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

2. The Transport for Greater Manchester Committee is a Joint Committee of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the ten district authorities of Greater Manchester, and advises on transport policy.

3. Transport policies that affect the ten districts of Greater Manchester are set by the Combined Authority.

4. To find out more about Transport for Greater Manchester’s recent work, please see our Annual Report at www.tfgm.com/annualreport.