PLANS for a quality bus corridor which will sweep Bury public transport passengers along the main road to Manchester have come under the spotlight.

The aim of the plan, looked at by Bury's environment and transport scrutiny and review panel, is to produce a smooth and efficient seam along the A56 Manchester Road which will increase the quality of journeys on public transport from Bury to Manchester.

In September, Bury Council appointed Colin Buchanan and Partners to study the route, identify the main causes of bus service delays and unreliability and identify measures to encourage greater use of buses in the A56/A665 corridor.

The Manchester-based consultants office has now issued a study report showing the feasibility and possible benefits of such a scheme. It is being reviewed by Bury councillors and officers. Mr Mike Cannon, borough engineer, said: "The corridor will be an asset to Bury, shifting the balance towards public transport, improving its reliability and reducing pollution." The outline proposals from the study will now form the basis for a period of consultation on the proposed corridor.

The public will have the opportunity to comment at area board meetings until March when GMPTE will carry out a general public consultation to raise awareness of the project among potential users.

A detailed consultation will take place through the summer. The design of schemes will ultimately come from responses to the consultation. In December there will be a period of public consultation on the detailed design.

It is expected that the implementation of schemes will begin in January next year.

The streamlined thoroughfare will run through the Redvales, Unsworth, Besses, Holyrood, Sedgley, Radcliffe South and Pilkington Park wards.

The corridor will feature bus lanes and widened roads. It is being provided by a partnership including Bury, Manchester and Salford councils, the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and First Manchester, the major bus operator on this route.

Consultation and implementation of the A56 quality bus corridor will be a joint exercise with GMPTE and the other corridor partners.

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