BUS bosses have been told to sharpen up their timing in Denton after it was revealed more than 20 per cent of services on two key routes are not on schedule.
According to official figures, of those operating on the 201 and 202 routes, 16.9 per cent are late and 3.8 per cent early.
And hearing those statistics, which cover a one-month period, from Transport For Greater Manchester (TfGM), Cllr George Newton wants better.
The Denton South representative has been pressing over concerns about slow and unreliable journeys, poor connections and the lack of alternative transport options available to residents.
He argues reliability is particularly important in the town because unlike other Tameside areas, there is not a tram or train network to fall back on.
Cllr Newton said: “Denton totally reliant on our bus network.
“Unlike smaller towns across Greater Manchester, we have no tram network, no train service and no Bee Bikes to pick up the slack when the buses don’t show up.
“Transport is the biggest barrier to growth in Denton. We need to get Denton moving!”
Cllr Newton says he has asked TfGM to formally explore the case for a limited-stop or express bus service between Haughton Green, Denton and Manchester, particularly during peak periods.
TfGM has said express services can be considered where there is a “clear, evidence-based rationale.”
It has also confirmed it is working with operator Metroline to identify pinch points affecting 201 and 202 services.
This includes examining the layout of the Hyde Road bus lane, which it acknowledges can create a bottleneck and contribute to congestion.
Metroline is also exploring enhanced software to allow more effective real-time intervention when services become disrupted or begin bunching together.
Cllr Newton added: “There isn’t one magic fix for Denton’s transport problems. We need to look at buses, roads, rail, cycling and how they work together.
“Anyone who has travelled from Haughton Green into Manchester on the bus knows it can take an absolute age.
“I want TfGM to properly investigate whether a faster, limited-stop service could work rather than simply accepting that these journeys have to take so long.
“TfGM has not ruled that idea out, so I intend to pursue it.”
Denton may see tram-train services running through it as TfGM is exploring a potential Ashton to Manchester Airport tram-train service via the town, Reddish and Stockport town centre, using existing railway infrastructure for much of the route.
Any scheme would remain subject to further business case development, funding and government approval, but Cllr Newton believes: “The tram-train proposal could be transformational for Denton.
“But we’ve heard proposals for a train service for years. We need this now.”