Town will be more isolated (From Leigh Journal)

Town will be more isolated

2:55pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in Letters

 WITH regards to the guided busway,

I attended the inquiry in 2002 almost every day. I walked the proposed route with the inspector and the representatives of GMPTE.

It was obvious that the guided busway was never going to fail.

It speaks volumes when a barrister, speaking for the busway, was in attendance almost every day for the two weeks that the inquiry was taking place.

The estimated cost at that time was £32 million. The estimated cost now is £76 million.

The group that visited the Cambridge guided busway recently have eulogised the benefits.

They have not expanded on what it cost.

I believe the initial figure was £54 million and I am led to believe that the final cost is in excess of £150 million.

Can anyone from the delegation confirm that or was that not in your remit?

I honestly believe that this will be a white elephant, something that Tyldesley does not need.

I would love to see the town regenerated but I am afraid that it will become even more isolated by these plans.

The powers that be in Wigan only concentrate on their side while Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley are left on the sidelines.

If anyone from Manchester used the busway to shop in any of these towns they would only do it once.

I am passionate about Tyldesley and the people who live here – they are kind and friendly and they deserve better treatment.

Tyldesley resident

Name and address supplied