TRANSPORT planners took to the buses on a day trip to West Yorkshire.

Last Friday they were in Leeds sampling the city's guided busway stretch.

"We were very impressed," admitted Cllr Brian Jarvis, one of the group of Wigan planners who went on a fact-finding mission with Leigh Busway proposals in mind.

But he also expressed dismay at the prospect of a five year wait before it could be up and running.

Local authority representatives met a party from Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and listened to presentations put forward by them and their West Yorks peers.

With a synchronised traffic light system the busway route sliced through congested areas and gave the visitors a first-hand insight into what might be expected from Leigh Busway proposals.

But back on the west side of the Pennines Cllr Jarvis admitted his transport concerns:

"We're talking about a five year wait. GMPTE said they could have it up and running by 2003 - that is disappointing, we need it now!

"The problem is we have too many cars on the road, but if numbers are to be reduced there has to be a dramatic improvement in public transport in general."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.