Horwich: Campaigners turn out against Diamond Buses cuts

Their warning comes after Diamond Buses announced plans to cut lines across Bolton and around Greater Manchester earlier this month.

These cuts will include drastic reductions to buses serving Horwich and last weekend residents were out in force opposing the move.

Campaigner George Butler said: “The service is similar to the one in Breighmet really in that it connects us to the town centre and to Chorley New Road.”

Diamond Bus services are set to be cut all over Greater Manchester (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “Losing the bus connection would just leave the entire community here completely isolated from the town centre and from Chorley New Road.

“There’s a lot of stuff along that road and many people in Horwich will have family there.

“So as I say its just going to leave people completely isolated.”

The cuts, set to take effect from April onwards, will see the 575 route cut from six buses per hour to three, while services to the Lever Park area will be stopped completely.

Campaigners were out in force over the weekend (Image: George Butler)

Mr Butler was out campaigning over the last weekend alongside members of Horwich and Blackrod Labour Party and says that their efforts have attracted the support of residents whose views stretch across the political spectrum.

He said: “People are just in complete agreement about this, even people who may be quite apolitical or who wouldn’t normally support us.

“Even people who don’t necessarily use the buses themselves can see the value of them.”

The campaign in Horwich follows on from a similar one mobilised in Breightmet in opposition to plans to cut the 561 and 562 services.

Diamond Bus services all around the city region will be withdrawn from April 16.

ALSO READ: Campaign launched to stop 'vital' bus routes from closing down

ALSO READ: Bolton bus services cut after firm misses out on contract – affected routes listed

ALSO READ: New bus operator announced for Bolton as buses brought under public control

But Rotola, which owns Diamond Buses, says it has been left with no option but to cut services because of the ‘uncertainty’ caused by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham’s plan to take bus franchises into public ownership.

Rotala commercial manager Thomas Calderbank said: “Given the possible uncertainty that this announcement has generated and will continue to generate for most of this year, we have taken the decision now to reduce the number of buses we need to operate in order to ensure our service delivery on what services remain is robust.

He added: “We have been engaging with TfGM since before Christmas around these changes, and we will support TfGM in trying to mitigate the impact of them as best we can.”