The council’s public transport lead has set the wheels in motion for the reinstatement of a vital section of a Middleton and Heywood bus route, which was recently axed by transport bosses.
Councillor Phil Burke, who represents Rochdale Borough Council on the Bee Network Committee, raised a number of concerns after transport bosses removed a section of the 125 bus route covering Knight Crescent in the Silver Birch Estate in Middleton.
The service, which runs from Heywood to Middleton town centre, is the only bus service currently serving Birch and Hopwood and makes a number of stops along the route, including in Knight Crescent.
But bosses at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) recently removed the Knight Crescent stop from the route, leaving residents of the estate struggling to make the approximately 15 minute walk to the nearest stop in Langley Lane.
Councillor Phil Burke, Chair of the Transport Committee, said:
“I was contacted by a number of residents about this and immediately took my concerns to Transport for Greater Manchester. This bus is a lifeline for people in this area and taking this section of the route out left people, many of whom are older and less mobile, having to walk some distance to get to a stop which was further away. Some of the neighbourhoods on this route are already poorly served by public transport and we have had to fight in the past to stop this entire service being axed. I’m delighted that TfGM have listened to the residents on this issue and done the right thing.”
Rochdale Borough Council Leader, Neil Emmott, who supported the push to bring back the stop in Knight Crescent, said:
“You can’t underestimate the importance of reliable local bus services for our communities. They are a vital way for our residents, particularly older people, to stay connected to the wider community. They get them to important appointments and, most importantly, enable them to get out of the house, get some fresh air and meet friends and family. Expecting these people to walk a significant distance to be able to access this bus route is simply not acceptable. We were happy to take their concerns on board and get this decision reversed.”
Local resident, Susan Beech, welcomed the move. She said:
“I volunteer at the British Heart Foundation in the Middleton Arndale and I often use this service to get into town. Dropping this section of the route led to some sections of this community feeling isolated, as it’s an absolute lifeline, particularly for local pensioners. I know of a local woman who is 99 and uses it to get into Middleton town centre to do her shopping. It will make a huge difference to people like her and I’m delighted it’s coming back."
The route is set to be fully reinstated on the week beginning Monday, 26 May 2025.