A MILLION passengers a year would travel along Leigh Guided Busway.

Transport chiefs say the planned buses-only route could be completed within four or five years at an estimated cost of £20m.

That, they say, would be one quarter the cost and at least half the time it would take to reinstate a rail route from Leigh through Tyldesley.

Bill Tyson, chairman and managing director of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive's transport management group, said people were "not being fobbed-off with second best" by the preference of buses over trains.

As part of a public consultation exercise on the scheme to improve public transport and persuade people to leave their cars at home 27,000 explanatory brochures have been distributed.

And after the Saturday display at Leigh's Spinning Jenny Centre brought mixed views from 150 people he said:"We are confident that the vast majority of people in the area do believe it is a good idea."

Major busway benefits being highlighted are reliable scheduled services which don't suffer the timetable hassles of traffic jams. And planners foresee the route attracting more people to Leigh rather than catering just for those heading towards Manchester.

Mr Tyson added: "It does have the potential to serve other areas - not just Leigh and Manchester." Buses could veer off towards Atherton or Walkden, he said, and the intention was to make the guided busway as level as possible to prevent noise intrusion from labouring engines.

Provisional ideas include having a traffic signal controlled crossing at Holden Road and perhaps reinstating the high level bridge at City Road, Mosley Common.

The double track would be kept as narrow as possible, said Mr Tyson, to preserve footpaths and bridleways running alongside. And trees and shrubs which may have to be uprooted in the course of laying the busway would be replaced as part of landscaping.

Guided buses are in use in Essen, Germany and Adelaide, Australia as well as in Ipswich and Leeds. They are currently proposed for parts of Edinburgh and are in contention along with tramway schemes for London's suburbs.

Public meetings will be held, all at 7pm, on Thursday, June 25 at St George's Central CE School, Tyldesley and Thursday, July 2 at Fourways Assessment Unit, Cleworth Hall Lane, Tyldesley.

An exhibition bus will visit Leigh on Saturdays, June 20 (10-4) Spinning Gate car park and June 27 (10-4) Leigh Library car park; Tyldesley - Friday, June 19 (10-4) Blossom Street car park, Thursday, June 25 (4-6.45) St George's Central CE School and Saturday, July 4 (10-4) Blossom Street car park.

Further information from GMPTE's hotline on 0161 242 6777 (8.30-5).

Public consultation continues to the end of next month, but late views will still be collated, and a report will go to the Passenger Transport Authority for its decision in autumn.

If the go-ahead is given an application will be made to the Secretary of State for powers to build and the final decision will be made by an independent inspector at a public inquiry.

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