MOTORIST claims a bus corridor has increased his journey to work time by 20 minutes.

William Nelson is furious about new bus lanes which he claims have only created more congestion.

He says road narrowing has caused massive tailbacks in Leigh Road, Leigh.

Mr Nelson said: "Traffic leaving Leigh could pass left-turning vehicles at Leigh Road/Kirkhall Lane but cannot now do so due to the new bus lane. Queues now form at Leigh Town Centre."

And he is challenging transport chiefs to a rethink on the Leigh-Bolton 'quality bus corridor'.

He said: "I cannot foresee the need for me to use a bus. They are expensive, unreliable and time consuming. Why set off an extra hour earlier, pay extra and use a bus?"

Mr Nelson has complained to GMPTE just as proposals are being made for a guided busway between Leigh and Manchester.

Among his complaints are;

Road narrowing along m.p.h. stretches of road makes people go slower but does not necessarily prevent accidents.

Bus lanes are haphazard and dangerous. Drivers do not know when to use the lane or not.

Head of Highway Planning and Regulation Dave Sutton said: "Schemes are within guidelines laid down by the Government and are intended to assist modes of transport other than the car."

In 2003 parts of the Leigh-Bolton bus corridor will be monitored by cameras.