IT is with a considerable amount of incredulity that I received the Machiavellian machinations from the Tory Richard Short.

Let’s present him with the facts. The idea for the guided busway was put forward in the 1990s but it has taken so long to get up and running because of the intransigence of people like Mr Short.

At the time the main protagonist was Chris Maile, a Green Party member from Kent. I told him to hop it.

In October 2002 a public inquiry was heard in the top chapel, Market Square, Tyldesley, presided over by an eminent independent representative from London.

Both sides were represented. I wrote and presented that morning a letter to the inquiry (four A4 sides long) stating why the guided busway was an essential addition to the local transport needs.

The new infrastructure would cater for the then new low floor buses with level access, Wi-Fi on board and audio/visual announce system indicating the next bus stop.

Also, at the time I was a chairman at ‘Ring and Ride’ and saw this a great opportunity to dovetail ‘Ring and Ride’ buses to the nearest busway stop, thus enabling disabled/elderly people to broaden their travel to Manchester, Leigh and all points in between.

To quote James Hilton, Leigh’s famous novelist, this will be our Shangri-La.

At the end of the inquiry the adjudicator took back to London what had been said that morning for and against.

After what seemed like a very long time – years – a decision was made that the building of the guided busway should go ahead.

I respect that decision and I suggest that Mr Short and all the other misguided individuals do likewise. After all that is what good democracy is – a rule of law.

Frank Parkinson, Tyldesley