Rochdale Bus Station Uncertainty

Date published: 03/03/2006

Rochdale Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Councillor Shah Wazir has slammed the GMPTA claiming that there was no money in the capital programme for a new bus station in Rochdale in 2006/2007.  Councillor Wazir, the Rochdale Lib Dem GMPTA Spokesperson attended a policy meeting of the Authority at Manchester Town Hall on Friday 3 March.
 
Councillor Wazir said after the meeting, "I was shocked and dismayed that absolutely no mention was made about Rochdale Bus Station.  I have been led to believe on a number of occasions from the Labour Leader of Rochdale Council, Cllr Allen Brett, that we will have a committment to build our desperately needed new bus station this year.  What is going on? I asked at the meeting whether the new bus station would be included in plans for the next financial year.  I was told that they were not sure, I think Rochdale deserves better and we need a genuine committment to public transport in Rochdale.  I hope that the GMPTA can start telling us what is happening, I hope they are not following the Government's example over Metrolink."
 
Meanwhile, Councillor Wazir has accused Councillor Brett of "having all his priorities wrong" - after Councillor Brett admitted to the meeting that the "one ambition he's got before he retires is to improve Victoria Station." 

Councillor Shah Wazir said, "I was hugely surprised, I know that Councillor Brett is retiring soon, but I always thought he was committed to Rochdale first and foremost.  I would like to think that the delivery a new, state of the art bus station, and of course the Metrolink, would be higher on his list of priorities! - he has got all his priorities wrong."

In response Cllr Brett said: "Shah Wazir does not understand what  is happening as the money  is there. He was told this at the P.T.A. Policy Committee meeting on Friday 3 March."

Cllr Brett added: "this is not the first time Cllr Wazir has got confused. He told the council the Free Fares scheme would be reviewed in Oct. It was only the Ring and Ride scheme." 

Cllr. Brett continued: "it would help if Cllr Wazir went to briefings instead of just turning up at a few meetings and claiming his 1000 `s of pounds. When was he last on a bus? When did he last go into Rochdale Bus Station? Has he ever attended the Local Transport Advisory Committee?"