I WAS delighted to see the recent article in these pages in which our new MP condemned the appalling bus services residents in the north of Bury have to put up with.

For too long, bus companies have hiked up fares only to slash routes or provide very poor services to people in places like Ramsbottom.

If you live in Rammy and work in Manchester and you don't have a car, your last direct route to the city will soon be gone.

It will now take twice as long and cost a lot more per week for commuters to get to work. That is completely unacceptable.

I grew up in Rammy and would love to move back one day, but the poor public transport into Manchester is a major hindrance, given that myself and my partner both work in Manchester city centre.

Enough is enough. I hope that the new powers the Mayor of Greater Manchester will receive will allow bus franchises to put bus users first and not the profits of private companies.

All areas of Bury deserve access to regular, affordable bus services connecting them to all areas of Greater Manchester, whether for work or leisure.

I'll be writing to James Frith to ask that he continues to represent the interests of bus users in Ramsbottom and elsewhere and keeps the pressure on First to reverse their terrible decision to axe the X35.

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