TWELVE bus services in Bury and Bolton are to be reduced in frequency or have their routes curtailed after Bury bus depot closes.

All run by First Manchester, the changes will affect passengers across both boroughs, including those who use major routes between the two.

The changes will be effective from April 23, the date confirmed for the closure of First’s depot, in Rochdale Old Road.

First had previously said that the closure would not affect services.

Some Bury to Bolton journeys on the 471 will be withdrawn in the early morning and evening, with no changes to the first or last journeys.

A new timetable will be introduced for the 511, which runs from Bolton to Bury via Darcy Lever, Ainsworth and Walshaw, with buses generally running seven minutes later than currently, and some lightly-used journeys will no longer run.

The 524 from Bolton to Bury via Little Lever and Radcliffe will be reduced, but there will be no changes to first or last journeys.

Alan Theu, aged 71, a bus user from Fishpool, said he might have to give up his season ticket at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton as a result of the changes.

He added: “If a production finishes a bit late, sometimes I might have to wait nearly an hour for the bus to take me back to Bury.

“In the winter it can be so cold. It’s not fair on the public. I will have to think seriously about whether to buy a season ticket for the theatre next year because I don’t want to be standing there freezing while waiting for the bus.

“It would be such a shame to miss out on the theatre because of something like this.”

There will also be timetable changes on the 92/93 from Bury to Manchester, via Unsworth, Prestwich and Carr Clough, with some afternoon peak journeys from Carr Clough to Manchester being cut.

The 94 from Pilsworth to North Manchester General Hospital, via Unsworth, Prestwich and Carr Clough, will no longer be provided by First, with M Travel taking over delivery of the service.

It is not known yet if there will be any changes to the 94.

Some early morning and evening journeys on the 95 service will be changed to run between Prestwich and Salford only, where they currently run to Bury, via Whitefield, Unsworth and Sunny Bank.

There will be minor timetable changes during morning peak times to the 97/98 service from Bury to Manchester, via Unsworth, Radcliffe, Prestwich and Carr Clough.

There will also be minor timetable changes to the 135, which runs from Bury to Manchester via Whitefield and Cheetham Hill.

Some early morning and evening journeys between Bury and Tottington on the 468 will no longer run, but there will be no change to the times of first or last journeys.

Phil Medlicott, managing director of First Manchester, said: “We aim to keep changes to a minimum when amending services or timetables, but I’d like to reassure customers that the majority of changes are made to improve service reliability.”

All services affected are commercial services and not subsidised by Transport for Greater Manchester.

A spokesperson for TfGM said: “Operators are free to decide if a particular service should be amended or withdrawn, based on their own commercial considerations, including general viability and whether or not other alternative services are available or nearby.

“TfGM, which is funded by the ten districts of Greater Manchester, remains committed to maintaining a network to meet a social need that can’t be met by the commercial market.  Subsidising general bus services is one of the largest budget allocations made by TfGM – around £15 million.

“Whilst the budget for this is being maintained in 2017/18 any additional request for TfGM to support bus services, for example if a commercial service is de-registered, would have to be funded through efficiencies as there is no additional budget allocated this year.

“All support for bus services is considered extremely carefully, with each case assessed on its individual merit.”