Fury Over New Shuttle Bus Route (Cllr Marc Ramsbottom)

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom <info@marcramsbottom.org.uk>

Fury Over New Shuttle Bus Route

July 19, 2009 12:41 PM

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom and Cllr Elaine Boyes received residents petition

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom (centre) with Cllr Elaine Boyes (left) receive residents petition against the proposed route of the Metroshuttle.

Local residents at the Left bank apartments in Spinningfields are up in arms at plans to turn a pedestrianised street into a bus route. Transport bosses have been asked to divert one of the city centre free Metroshuttles along Left bank outside residents flats. The No.3 'purple' Metroshuttle current runs along Gartside Street, by the court buildings through the middle of Spinningfields. Under new plans put forward by Spinningfields Management Company it would turn right off New Bailey Street head down Leftbank - instead of Gartside Street - along a pedestrianised street, then turn left onto Quay Street.

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom talks to visitors about the proposed new route

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom talks to visitors with children in Spinningfields.

City Centre Councillors Elaine Boyes and Marc Ramsbottom, who recently met with residents, are opposed to the plans. "It is entirely unnecessary and will bring traffic along an area design for pedestrian's", said Cllr Boyes.

"The current route is no more than 30 seconds walk from Leftbank, so the argument that they want to bring the shuttle bus closer to restaurant's is totally bogus." said Cllr Ramsbottom.

Local residents have collected names on a petition from local residents, and present it to Cllr Boyes and Cllr Ramsbottom, who will present it to Transport bosses late this week.

Metroshuttle operates three routes across the city centre between 7am and 7pm Monday to Saturday every 10 minutes, and 10 and 6pm on Sunday. The No. 3 Metroshuttle runs between Piccadilly station and Salford Central Station.