£1 million public transport services launched in Rochdale

'New Middleton Local Link users Hayley Wright, Sherry Brannick and Margaret Eddleston celebrate the launch of the service with Councillor Allen Brett

More than £1 million has been invested in two door-to-door public transport services in the Rochdale borough.

The new £450,000 Middleton Local Link service, which is funded by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, is being operated by Heywood New Heart Community Transport.

The community transport organisation has also received more than £600,000 in joint funding, from the Authority and New Heart for Heywood, to build on the services it previously offered locally. The Authority has received money for both services directly from the Department for Transport.

Middleton Local Link provides a minibus service which collects people in Middleton from outside their home to travel to destinations in the local area, including Stake Hill Industrial Estate, Middleton Adult Learning Centre and North Manchester General Hospital. It also provides links to other public transport services in the area at Mills Hill rail station and Crumpsall Metrolink stop.

Heywood New Heart Community Transport also picks up residents from their home to travel anywhere locally as well as to health facilities at Fairfield General, Rochdale Infirmary, North Manchester General, Oldham Royal and Birch Hill hospitals. People can use both services to help them reach employment and education facilities, such as Hopwood Hall College and Birch Industrial Estate and Motorway Services.

Councillor Allen Brett, Deputy Chairman and Rochdale spokesperson for the Authority, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that everyone has access to public transport to get out and about in their local community.

“These services are particularly good news for job-seekers and anyone travelling to college and evening classes in the area. Many of the employment areas are not well served by bus and Middleton Local Link and Heywood New Heart Community Transport will provide door-to-door services to meet shift times. They make it much easier to reach local health facilities as well.

“People can also use the services to visit friends, reach the shops or link up with other public transport services in the area. I’m sure they will be well used.”

Margaret Eddleston, who works at LBM in Stake Hill, has already signed up to use the service. She said: “It used to take me over an hour to reach work as I had to catch a bus into Middleton and then another bus back out again.

“I was thinking about buying a car before I heard about Middleton Local Link but now I won’t need to as I can get to work in under 20 minutes and be picked up from outside my front door. It’s a great service that I’d encourage other people to use.”

Transport is available every day between 5.30am and 10.30pm for Middleton Local Link and between 5am and 10.30pm from Monday to Friday and between 9am and 8.30pm at weekends for Heywood New Heart Community Transport.

Passengers can book one or more trips by calling 08456 05 55 05 for Middleton Local Link or 01706 364688 for Heywood New Heart Community Transport. Passengers with wheelchairs or child buggies should inform the booking centre so that a suitable vehicle can be provided.

The adult fare for Middleton Local Link is £1.50 for a single or £2.50 for a return. Higher fares apply for journeys to and from North Manchester General Hospital and Crumpsall Metrolink stop. Concessions are available for GMPTE permit holders. Fares for Heywood New Heart Community Transport start at £1 for journeys within Heywood rising to £4 for journeys to North Manchester General, Oldham Royal and Birch Hill hospitals.

Detailed information on all public transport services in Greater Manchester is available on the GMPTE website (www.gmpte.com) or by calling Traveline on 0870 608 2 608. Lines are open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 8pm at weekends and on Bank Holidays. Textphone users should ring 0870 241 2216.