Councillors in Trafford warn borough could "miss the bus" over Bee Network roll-out

Liberal Democrat councillors in Trafford have warned that the borough risks "falling behind the rest of Greater Manchester" over the roll out of Bee Network bus services. 

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's flagship decision to take buses back into public ownership has been welcomed by the Lib Dems, but Timperley North Councillor Will Frass says Trafford could be "at the back of the queue" when it comes to getting new or improved services.

Councillor Frass said, "The hope is that public ownership of the buses leads to improved and increased services. Burnham has said that each Greater Manchester council should set up its own Bee Network Committee so that performance can be monitored locally and requests for new and improved routes can be made formally. But Trafford's Labour ruling Group isn't planning on setting up our local committee until 2028. By that time, the rest of Greater Manchester will have put all their requests for new bus services in and Trafford will be at the back of the queue."

Local Bee Network Committees are already established in eight of Greater Manchester's ten local authorities, with Trafford and Oldham yet to form their own. The committees are cross-party and Burnham has publicly stated that councils can use them to scrutinise local public transport performance as well as to make requests for new or altered bus routes.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Timperley Central Julian Newgrosh is campaigning for changes to the local Timperley/Altrincham circular service - the 285/286.

Councillor Newgrosh said, "It's so frustrating that Trafford Labour are saying one thing and their own Manchester Mayor is saying another. I want to be able to make my case for changes to bus routes. All I want is to expand the 285/286 route to cover the Broomwood Estate. My residents on Broomwood are completely reliant on the 11 Bus, which comes all the way from Stockport and always gets caught up in traffic or roadworks. Children have been late for school. People are just trying to make local journeys in and out of Altrincham."

"I would happily sit and make my case to fellow councillors. I want the Bee Network to deliver for my residents. 2028 is too late, we'll quite literally miss the bus. Why don't Trafford Labour want to put the work in now?"