Promises have not been kept

I say that the reason for the rapid decline in Tyldesley is the Labour-run Wigan Council.

In the fight against the construction of our third rate concrete railway Cllr Joe Platt (now our MP) and Cllr Stephen Hellier were among other Labour members who promised the busway would bring ‘prosperity and expansion to Tyldesley centre’, ‘end traffic jams on the A580’ and provide ‘a real alternative to the railway’ and that buses would ‘be every eight minutes and deliver passengers to where they want go in the city centre in 50 minutes’.

Fifteen months after the busway opened I suggest none of those promises have materialised.

Bus times are erratic – I spent 95 minutes trying to get to Atherton one night.

The A580 is as poor as ever. Some days it can take over an hour to get to and from the motorway junction in Worsley, and Tyldesley is in terminal decline.

The route does not deliver passengers near any shops, railway stations or anywhere else people are likely to want to visit in the city centre.

Just before the busway opened Morrisons pulled out of Tyldesley, and since the opening more shops have withdrawn from the main street and others have given notice.

The only bank is closing and the market has also given up and left.

I have a piece of advice for Ms Rehman. Instead of trumpeting the words of who I consider to be Marxist party leaders she should get out and do the job she was elected to do in May 2016, represent the ward of Tyldesley.

Go and introduce yourself to the few remaining business owners of your ward, and to the residents.

Who knows, after the surprise they may even be pleased to see you.

Ask what you and the council can do to help reverse the ghost town Tyldesley has become.

There are more and more houses being built and adding to the serious congestion experienced in this area.

If they cannot get out of the area they may be grateful for a revived Tyldesley with really useful shops and businesses.

John Stirzaker

Tyldesley