Ewing School: 40 Years On And Still Going Strong

A West Didsbury special school comes of age

The year 1968 was best remembered for Manchester United being the first English team to lift the European Cup,

OMG! Mancunian Blogger visits totalitarian fast food joint

I’m Bloggin’ It…

A lot has been said about the world’s leading fast food chain’s act to ‘clean up’ and focus on healthier foods

Could Cross-City Bus Services Return to Manchester?

Plans for new cross-city bus network proposed under Transport Innovation Fund

Unless you have had your head buried in the sand, Manchester was the successful bidder for the Government’s Transport Innovation Fund. This would

The Not So Perfect 10: Things I Miss About Bus Travel in Greater Manchester

“Pick You Up Tomorrow As Usual”

Today’s bus operations in Greater Manchester are dominated by the big three companies, Arriva, FirstGroup and Stagecoach.  As with the local shopping centres, the clone town scenario is also true of bus operations outside London.

New Year, New Increases, Old Grumblers

Bus and rail fare squabblefest

Can’t you tell that the New Year has started already? Two days into the year, our blessed transport companies let New Year in by issuing a 5 - 15% fares increase on its passengers.

Stagecoach Manchester: Industrial Action

• 1/3 of Greater Manchester bus users affected by industrial action;
• Dukinfield, Mottram-in-Longdendale, Stockport area and Glossop worst affected by dispute;
• Limited services on key routes.

Confirmed in today’s [23 November 2007]

“When You’re Up on the Stage it’s so Unbelievable*”

RH@M/CR: Roger Hodgson, Palace Theatre, Manchester, 03 October 2007

One of the geniuses behind Supertramp Roger Hodgson delivered a virtuoso performance at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.

Most of the audience

Eight out of ten Greater Manchester businesses oppose congestion charging

• 80% of businesses to vote against C-Charge if referendum was imposed
• Claims of charges driving away investment
• Over 50% of dissenters within the Tory Trafford Borough area

Donna Williams to do Manchester

Famous Australian author and all round renaissance woman’s 2007 UK tour dates unveiled.

For several years, Donna Williams has been well known to the autism spectrum fraternity as a leading author within this field.

Greater Manchester says ‘No’ to Congestion Charging

Manchester Evening News, 20 March 2007

Over the last fortnight, 1,000 people were interviewed in a telephone poll over congestion charging via the Manchester Evening News. The 21 March edition stated that just under two thirds of those polled were against this. However 59% stated they agreed with congestion charging - if the money was channelled towards Metrolink expansion.

For the Tameside area, just over two thirds of people were against congestion charging. 63% were in favour of this, if the money was channelled towards the Metrolink. Of the people polled, 41% travelled by car or motorbike, and 35% used public transport. Of the ten districts which make up the Greater Manchester area, Tameside people were the biggest public transport users in the survey.  The most popular form of public transport was the train, with 44% of the poll.  In second place was the bus.

Tameside results

Much noise has been made against the congestion charges over the last three months, with the implication it may have for the local economy.  The greatest concern has been the number of people expecting to shop outside the proposed zone (could Glossop and Sheffield benefit?).  Another has been the cost - which is something that should be taken to account (I stress this given that Tameside based employees have the lowest wages in Greater Manchester).

As a public transport user, I support the idea of congestion charging, but… (and I mean but) further investment in buses, trains and the Metrolink must be made - as stressed by the conditions made by central government.  If no further investment is made, I will therefore renege on this opinion.

For the greater good, I suggest that:

No congestion charging should take place without the public ownership of local bus and rail services.

In other words, I advocate the return of Greater Manchester Transport or SHMD, or the imposition of a London style franchising system.  How can central government stick to its policies properly if bus operators outside London can do anything they like with their services (see my previous post on the 343 route)?

S.V., 22/03/2007