Greater Manchester commuters could save themselves up to £240 a year thanks to the unveiling of a new annual bus pass.
With only four months to go now until all buses in Greater Manchester come under local control, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has now confirmed plans for a new annual bus pass that will significantly cut the cost of travel across the region.
Available from January – subject to agreement by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) – and costing £800, the new buss pass means customers will be able to spread payment throughout the year, at no extra cost, with a what’s called a Credit Union loan.
It’ll save passengers almost £5 a week, almost £20 a month, and up to £240 a year compared – with the lower fares also being introduced for seven and 28-day Bee Network bus tickets.
Find out more from today's announcement by @MayorofGM on the new annual #BeeNetwork bus pass that will cut the cost of travel in Greater Manchester.
The annual, weekly, and 28-day tickets will provide unlimited travel on Bee Network bus services across the whole of Greater Manchester, TfGM has confirmed and are intended to make public transport “more affordable” so that more people can access jobs, training, and opportunities.
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Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says it’s working with Greater Manchester Credit Unions to enable to people to apply for the new annual pass from 5 December, so that their bus ticket is available to use from 5 January 2025.
Arrangements are also being considered to offer customers the chance to spread the cost of existing annual Metrolink products, or an annual bus and tram pass, from March 2025.
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Andy Burnham has announced a new annual bus pass that could save Greater Manchester commuters up to £240 a year / Credit: TfGM
On top of this, a new ‘hopper fare’ will also replace single tickets on Bee Network services to provide passengers with more flexibility by allowing them to ‘hop on’ as many Bee Network buses as they like within one hour.
“With so many people across Greater Manchester struggling with the cost of living, I am really pleased we are able to drive down the cost of using Bee Network buses by reducing the price of weekly, 28-day, and annual travel,” Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, said following the announcement of the new bus passes.
“Through this innovative initiative, we are making our best value products available to all, and I hope it helps give people worried about bills certainty about the cost of travel and gives them one less thing to worry about.
“This is only possible because we are leading the way in bringing buses under local control after almost 40 years, and now we are leading the way in making our networks more accessible, inclusive, and affordable.”
Featured Image – TfGM
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Heartbreaking new figures show 35% of all children in the North West are living in poverty
35% of all children in the North West are currently living in poverty, some heartbreaking new figures have revealed.
Some new research carried out to understand regional levels of child poverty, conducted by Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition, has sadly revealed over a third (35%) of all children in the North West are living in what is called ‘relative poverty’, after the cost of housing is considered – which is higher than the national average standing at 31%.
Over in the Lancashire authority of Pendle, this figure reaches 45%, making it the second highest rate of all local authorities in the country.
In Greater Manchester, both Oldham and Manchester join Pendle in the list of the 10 council areas with the highest child poverty rates in the UK, as well as Blackburn with Darwen, and Hyndburn, and to make matters worse, the North West features on the list more times than any other region nationwide.
Rusholme was identified as the Manchester area with the highest percentage rating – with more than half (51.3%) of all children there living in poverty.
88% of constituencies across the North West have a quarter of children in poverty.
This could lead to things like families being forced to use food banks, children going without warm clothes in winter, or living in cold or unsafe housing.
As a result of these shocking statistics being revealed, the End Child Poverty Coalition – which represents more than 135 organisations across the UK – is calling on the Government to meet its manifesto commitment to address these high levels of child poverty, not just in the North West but also across the rest of country.
“These figures should demonstrate to Government just how important it is to quickly address this so to prevent another generation of children from growing up in low-income families,” commented Rachel Walters, who is the End Child Poverty Coalition Manager.
“The Government’s strategy to tackle child poverty must invest in children in areas with higher levels of poverty, like the North West.”
Graham Whitham, who is a End Child Poverty Coalition spokesperson and the Chief Executive of Resolve Poverty, added: “No child should go without the things they need to be healthy and happy.
“The Government’s forthcoming national Child Poverty Strategy must demonstrate a clear ambition to ending child poverty in this country, backed by specific targets and immediate investment in social security.”
Featured Image – RawPixel
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Manchester’s ‘busiest’ road to close for annual safety checks this weekend
Manchester’s ‘busiest’ road is set to close this weekend while annual safety checks are carried out, it has been confirmed.
As Manchester City Council looks to maintain and improve what is, by far, one of Manchester’s busiest and most-used roads, given the fact it is the main thoroughfare in and out of the city centre, it has been confirmed that Mancunian Way is set to close overnight this weekend for its annual inspection.
Carried out every year, the Council explains that these closures ensure that ‘vital’ safety inspections can be conducted to allow the major road to continue operating as normal.
The overnight closure will take place from 7-8 June.
From 5am on Saturday (7 June), Mancunian Way will be closed in both directions along its entire length, including all slip roads, between the Chester Road roundabout and Fairfield Street, and this will last until 7pm on Sunday (8 June), after which the road will be open to traffic again as normal.
In the meantime while the closures are underway, the Council assures that a signed diversion route will be in place via the north and eastern ring road sections – Trinity Way and Great Ancoats Street – and a local diversion route will be signed via Bridgewater Street, Whitworth Street West, Whitworth Street, and Fairfield Street.
Manchester’s ‘busiest’ road Mancunian Way is closing for annual safety checks this weekend / Credit: Pixabay
During this period there will also be a lane closure east/westbound at the Deansgate Interchange between 6:30-9:30am, and the inbound lane of Princess Road (heading towards Manchester) between 6:30am and 11:15am.
As is to be expected with these kinds of tasks, Councillors say they are preparing for a ‘level of disruption’ but are intending to keep it to a minimum.
“The annual inspection of the Mancunian Way is a vital job which ensures that the tens of thousands of daily users of this road can go about their journey in safety,” explained Councillor Tracey Rawlins, who is the Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment, and Transport.
“We do expect a level of disruption throughout this process so wherever possible we’d advise people to travel via public transport, or plan an alternate route ahead to avoid the work locations.
Emily Sergeant -
9th September 2024 
