Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority’s (GMITA) Policy and Resources Committee has welcomed the creation of a discounted System One ticket, provided by Greater Manchester Travelcards Limited, which will provide 28 days’ travel on bus and tram services in the county for just £15.

It will be available exclusively to people participating in the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities’ Future Jobs Fund programme – a £52 million scheme aimed at creating around 8,000 six-month placements in the county over the next 18 months.

The fund will support work experience opportunities for people aged between 18 and 24 who have been out of work for nine to 12 months. The associated System One pass will be available for the duration of the programme.

Mark Threapleton, Chair of Greater Manchester Travelcards Limited, said: “It is essential that practical assistance and support is given to addressing the level of youth unemployment within our region, and we welcome this opportunity to help.

“This is another positive example of how GMTL and GMITA continue to work closely to provide practical ticketing solutions.”

The special pass will only be available from GMPTE Travelshops, to ensure applicants can access the latest travel advice and support when travelling and can easily renew their ticket.

At one point, all bus routes in Bolton were suspended and the station was even closed.

Transport is slowly returning to normal, but some roads still remain icy.

Bolton Council has been hard at work gritting all of its priority roads.

A congestion charge zone

The Labour government has said that the borough councils of Greater Manchester will no longer be able to bid for Transport Infrastructure Fund (TIF) money – and so Bolton will lose out.

The news comes as a result of residents voting against plans for congestion charging. The government says they will not give TIF money to councils if they refuse to accept their widely unpopular congestion charging plans.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Bolton Council, David Wilkinson, said: “The TIF money has always been very useful for small improvement projects around the town, but now the government has taken this money away from us just because the people have told them what they think of their grand congestion charging ideas.”

Jackie Pearcey

Lib Dem Jackie Pearcey, who is campaigning for the Bolton West constituency, echoed the sentiments. She said: “This Labour Government spent years failing to allow the people of Greater Manchester to invest in our public transport and when money was promised, it came with a string attached which was not acceptable. In the meantime, millions have been spent in railway improvements in London and the South East.  The Government should allow us to spend our own money to improve our transport.”

Councils may still bid for funding – but their chances of success are minimal after this latest government blow.