BUS lanes in and around Bury town centre could be suspended or permanently removed amid claims they cause traffic congestion.

A study is to be carried out to look at the impact of such measures alongside a wider review of transport issues along key bus corridors.

The results of the detailed assessment, which will also focus on the financial implications of removing bus lanes either on a temporary or permanent basis, will be reported to Bury Council within the next six months.

The decision to carry out the appraisal received all-party support at last week's full council meeting following a motion tabled by the Conservative group. It asked the authority to note that traffic congestion to, and in, Bury town centre has become a "serious issue for residents in recent months and that the bus lanes are contributing to the problem."

Cllr Roy Walker said: "I think we have had long enough now to realise that bus lanes do not enhance traffic flow, but increase traffic congestion. I am concentrating on the A58 in my own ward, but much the same could be said for the approach to Bury from Heap Bridge."

He highlighted the northern orbital quality bus corridor from Bolton to Bury, Heywood, Rochdale and Littleborough and the fact only a small section of it had been built.

Cllr Walker continued: "Yet the argument for not removing one awkward, dangerous bit of bus lane at the foot of Ainsworth Road, where the spy camera car is situated, was that it would have a 'domino effect' on the rest of the bus lane from Bolton to Littleborough. As this hardly exists, seven years later, I can only assume the reason is that it is a honey trap and brings in income for the council."

Claiming there were not enough buses in Bury to justify the lanes, he continued: "Cars and other vehicles outnumber buses and with two mile queues of traffic most mornings down to Bury Bridge, as well as up from Heap Bridge most times. Bus lanes do not help traffic flow.

"Traffic congestion is a constant source of complaint in Bury with our restricted network of main roads, dead ends, long-term road closures, few bridges across the rivers, bypasses which are not bypasses and no vision for the future since 1930s.

"Unless Labour councillors are completely out of touch with public attitudes, they must be aware of concerns about traffic jams, spy camera cars and bus lane entrapment."

Backing the Conservative motion, council leader Cllr Mike Connolly said: "Cllr Walker seems to have a pre-occupation with bus lanes. But we are more than happy to support this motion."