Bus problems blamed on lack of cash

9:38am Saturday 20th October 2007

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Transport chiefs have blamed a lack of funds for the problems with Bolton's bus services.

Dozens of local people took their concerns to the area's bus operators at a public forum on Thursday.

Late buses and a lack of services in some areas at certain times were the main concerns of frustrated passengers.

But the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, which is responsible for providing services to areas of the region that are not commercially viable, is blaming a shortage of cash on its inability to ensure there are enough services in every district.

Michael Renshaw, the interim service delivery director for GMPTE, said: "82 per cent of all bus services in Greater Manchester are run on a commercial basis by operators such as Arriva and First and GMPTE have no say in when and where these buses run.

"We're committed to ensuring all areas have access to public transport and we have a limited budget to fund socially necessary services that operators would not otherwise run. But this budget is simply not enough to fill all the gaps we would like."