MP praises bus fight

MP Debbie Abrahams

AN MP has praised residents who fought to protect children after cuts to a bus service threatened to prevent them getting to school in Oldham.

Last month, First Bus brought in changes to the 184, with the service no longer terminating at Diggle or operating via Dobcross.

A solution was found after resident Liz Redfearn arranged a meeting with councillors and bus companies in Uppermill. At the meeting it was announced that from September the 558 bus will go to Blue Coat School via Diggle and Dobcross at 7.30am and the Y23 school bus will leave from Blue Coat School to Diggle via Dobcross at 3.35pm arriving at 4.10pm.

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, praised the commitment shown by those who worked together to find a solution at the meeting.

She said: "Many constituents have contacted me with their concerns about how these proposed changes would have affected children and young people getting to school and college.

"Also, the danger of cuts to services like these is that it's not just those trying to get to school or hospital, or going into town for social reasons that are being affected. It's the old, disabled and vulnerable people, and those without their own means of transport, who have become isolated.

"But I'm glad to say we seem to have reached a reasonable solution, especially for students, and I will continue to listen to constituents who may still have concerns about reduced bus services.

"I say well done to Liz and residents for their hard work and also to councillors, the bus companies and Travel for Greater Manchester for their input.

"It just shows what you can do when you work together."