A BOLTON councillor has made a plea on behalf of bus users travelling to Bolton General Hospital.

Cllr Pauline Spencer urged Bolton Hospitals Trust to call for a single town centre bus stop with a regular service to and from the hospital, which will be the nucleus of hospital services next year.

Beverley Andrew, Bolton Hospitals Trust director of operations, told the health liaison sub committee there had been meetings with the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.

In September, GMPTE said it was going to bus operators to test reaction to the changes in service.

Horwich Cllr Bob Ronson said: "The major concern is over the frequency and availability of services from outlying districts."

Cllr Spencer added: "As a bus user, I would urge that in your future discussions with GMPTE you ask for a single, central point where buses will pick up and drop off passengers.

"At present the buses go from all parts of the town and for an individual to get from one bus stop to another is not an easy task."

Cllr Prentice Howarth, said: "One of my main concerns is about the level of service provided on Sundays and bank holidays.

"There may only be two people who need and use a particular service and you need to make sure those two people can still get to the General site.

"I do not see how you will be able to tackle this issue. The logistics are simply too complicated."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.