Julia has blasted Labour’s town hall chiefs for their mismanagement of bin collections in Bolton. They changed the system, which left thousands of people without a bin collection for WEEKS.

The fiasco worsened when snowy and icy conditions swept across the area, crippling bin collections completely.

Julia said: “It has just been a farce. To make matters worse the country was running out of grit so out roads became so dangerous that bin lorries could not pass along them.”

A 100 tonnes of Bolton’s salt was given to Bury, leaving a shortage here. Lib Dems have called for a review to make sure that this never happens again.

The UK under a blanket of snow and ice. ource: University of Dundee. (Credit: NEODAAS/University of Dundee)

GMPTE is advising passengers to expect disruptions to public transport services to continue today, due to the severe frost.

Most bus services are operating, but main roads continue to be the best served routes. Metrolink services are running but with delays. Rail operators will continue to operate as full a service as possible.

Disruptions in Bolton include:

• 501 The service is currently operating one way only from moss bank way to Vernon st then normal route. Moss Bank – Farnworth journeys will operate normal route

• 510 The service is currently operating between Bury Interchange from 07:30 until 17:30 to Ainsworth Village, on an hourly frequency. Returning from Ainsworth village 8am hourly until 6pm

• 519 Operating between Moss Bank Way roundabout and Bolton only (currently unable to serve Johnson Fold)

• 561/2 Service is suspended until further notice.

• 575 Service is currently operating between Horwich The Crown and Bolton

• 597 Leigh to Leigh Sports Village Service currently suspended

This list was supplied by GMPTE at 8am on Saturday morning, and will be subject to change.

Bus passengers are advised to check the following websites:

www.arrivabus.co.uk

www.finglands.co.uk/

www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/northwest/manchester/service_disruptions/

www.southlancs.com

www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupdates.aspx

It comes as bin lorries are unable to safely get around Westhoughton’s streets and so bin collections next Monday have been cancelled.

The announcement comes quickly after Westhoughton South ward councillor David Wilkinson asked the council to consider setting up emergency drop off points to help out his residents, many of whom are struggling to cope in the snow and have bigger and bigger piles of rubbish.

The council’s contingency plan means that residents who are mobile and able to transport their excess waste will be able to hand over their waste to a parked refuse collection vehicle which is crewed up with staff from the service.

Westhoughton’s emergency collection points next Monday will be:

- Bolton Road car park

- La Scala car park, Wingates

- Grey Man pub car park, Hindley Road

Click Zone 1 Household Waste Drop Off Points to view the full list of drop off points along with a map (supplied by Bolton Council).

Residents are advised to continue checking this website for further updates throughout the week. If you have any particular concerns you can contact our team by e-mailing us at focus@westhoughton-libdems.org.uk.

Updates will be posted to this website when we get them, and to our Twitter and Facebook. You can also discuss the bin collections on the discussion board in Facebook.

The council has issued the following statement: “Bolton Council services for today (6 January) and tomorrow (7 January) during the severe weather. Further heavy snow is expected to fall during the evening and overnight, according to the Met Office, which may affect council services.

Bin collections

Bin collections have been suspended in Bolton today due to the weather. Staff are in work and are gritting and clearing town centre footpaths.

Gritting

Council staff have been gritting and ploughing continually all night and all day today. Due to the volume and depth of snow, the council is concentrating on the main arterial and ring roads, in order to concentrate resources where they will have the most impact. This means that some of the minor roads on the approved gritting routes will not be receiving any attention in the short term. The roads being prioritised are:

All of the A6
Blackburn Rd
St Peters Way
Belmont Rd
Chorley Old Rd
Crompton Way
Scout Rd
Chorley New Rd
Bury Rd
Newbrook Rd
Wigan Rd
St Helens Rd
De Havilland Way
Snydle Way
Leigh Rd
Cricketers Way
Watergate Ln
Smethurst Ln
Bradford Rd
Manchester Rd A666
Church St, Little Lever
Market S,t Little Lever
Stopes Rd, Little Lever
Tonge Moor Road
Hall Lane, Little Lever

Staff will continue gritting around the clock on the main arterial and ring roads until it is safe to reduce the service to its optimal level and address the other roads on the gritting routes. Ploughs will be deployed where snow is two inches deep or greater. All available streetscene and waste management staff have also been out clearing footpaths in the town centres all day.

Schools

Schools which have already planned to close tomorrow can be found on the council website.

Social care

Social care support is being maintained for the most vulnerable people. Those who receive home care services are being contacted individually to receive support.

The ‘meals on wheels’ (community meals) service will be limited but emergency arrangements are in place if needed.

Day care services are expected to be closed for the rest of the week, depending upon the weather.

Social services helpdesk and advice line will be open.

The child protection service will be working.

The council is also asking for anybody who has a vulnerable neighbour to check on them and make sure they are alright and if there is anything they might need.

Libraries and museum

All libraries due to to be open today are open as normal. Highfield Library will be closed tomorrow. Bolton Museum will remain closed today.

Planning Committee meeting

Due to the weather we have had to cancel this weeks Planning Committee meeting tomorrow. It has been rearranged for Thursday 14 January.

GMPTE has issued a series of bulletins with the latest travel updates, which we have been posting on this page.

Check back to our website throughout the day for more updates or go to www.gmpte.com

LATEST TRAVEL UPDATE

GMPTE is advising passengers to expect further disruptions to bus and tram services today due to the ongoing severe weather conditions.

Passengers should allow extra time for journeys and use main roads to access bus services.

A list of current known service information is available below. Passengers are also advised to check www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupdates.aspx, www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/northwest/manchester/service_disruptions/ and www.arrivabus.co.uk for service updates.

All Metrolink services are running to Piccadilly every 12 minutes. Passengers are advised to check www.metrolink.co.uk for the latest service information.

Rail passengers are advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk for service updates before travelling.

For the latest advice from Greater Manchester Police, log on to www.gmp.police.uk.

Bus services across Greater Manchester are continuing to suffer disruption due to adverse weather conditions. A list of the current disruptions and changes is given below. This is subject to change as more operators report in and others try to get some services on main roads restored.

First Manchester

Oldham depot: The following services are currently operating:

6 / 7 – now operating Rochdale to Kirkholt (The Strand)

24 – Rochdale to Manchester

56 – Rochdale to Middleton North Manchester General Hospital

58 – Rochdale to Middleton and Bury

59 – Shaw Wrens Nest (currently unable to serve Rushcroft) to Manchester (via Cheetham Hill Road not Waterloo Rd)

81 – Waterhead to Manchester (currently unable to serve Derker)

82/83 – Waterhead to Manchester

83 – Sholver to Oldham mumps (minibus shuttle operating every 15 minutes to provide a connection to the 82/83 to Manchester)

180 – Uppermill to Manchester (currently unable to serve Greenfield)

181/182 – Rochdale to Manchester

184 – Uppermill to Manchester

350 – currently not servicing Delph and Carrcote Estate

409 – Rochdale to Oldham and Ashton

425 – running from Oldham Mumps to Fitton Hill the Green

451 / 452 – operating from Rochdale to New Hey (unable to serve Bentgate, Two Bridges and Hurstead Estate)

454 / 457 – operating between Rochdale and Littleborough

X84 – evening service will operate but will be unable to serve Carrcote

Wigan depot: All services operating but on main roads only and not reaching side and estate roads.

32 – Wigan to Manchester (not operating via Castle Hill)

658 – service no longer serving Higher Folds Estate

625 / 626 – running main roads only. No longer serving the estates.

621 / 628 – running main roads only. No longer serving the estates.

Manchester depot: All services operating on main roads but unable to serve side and estate roads.

1 / 3 Metroshuttle – now operating normal service

2 Metroshuttle – (not serving Oxford Road Station)

27 – Manchester to Swinton (unable to serve Barton Road)

67 – Manchester to Cadishead (unable to serve Cadishead Estate)

67L – unable to serve Higher Irlam Estate

88 / 89 – Manchester to Whitemoss Circular (unable to serve Bankhouse Estate)

123/124 – terminating at Middleton and not operating around Langley

167 – not operating at present

Bury depot: All services running along main roads only.

163 – Bury to Manchester currently not serving Langley and Darnhill

93 – now operating normal service (unable to serve Carr Clough)

Bolton depot: The following services are operating

8 / 12 / 22 / 26 / 37 / 68 / 571 / 582 – all operating via normal routes

36 – currently not serving Madams Wood / Kenyon Way estates

501 – operating Bolton to Farnworth approx every 10 mins and Bolton to Moss Bank Way hourly

510 – Bury to Bolton not running

519 – Moss Bank Way roundabout to Bolton only (currently unable to service Johnson Fold)

533 – now running Bolton to Egerton

575 – Horwich Crown to Bolton

Dukinfield depot: The following services are now operating

38 / 39 – service currently suspended

183 – operating normal service

331 – operating out of Ashton via back of old Fire Station to Henrietta St

333 – normal route

332 – operating via Broadoak Road (instead of Hartshead Estate)

346 – operating normal service

348 – Ashton to Carrbrook (Buckton Vale Road)

350 – Ashton to Oldham operating via Bottom Mossley, Manchester Road to Royal George, then normal route to Oldham

350 – operating normal route with the exception of Carrcote and Delph

387 – operating from Hyde via Mottram Road (omitting Clarendon Rd, Sheffield Rd and Hattersley Estate omitting Ridge Hill)

389 – running normal route but not serving Yew Tree Lane / Lyne Edge

393 – operating via Old Fire Station, Henrietta St, Canterbury St to Broadoak Road and returning via 333 route (not serving Hartshead Estate

408 – running normal route to Crompton Way / Rochdale Road then directly to Shaw Wrens Nest only (not serving Buckstones)

419 – now operating Ashton to Middleton (normal route both directions)

Rossendale

11 – not serving Oakley

12 – not serving Hall Carr or Balladen

B4 – unable to operate due to parked cars on Thorn Bank

167 – unable to serve Norden – buses terminating at Woodyard Garage

244 – omitting Belthorn Village

273 – operating as normal

434 – not serving Hilltop Drive

440 – operating evening route to Syke Chapel

442 – omitting Medway and Marland Fold – Buses terminating at Bolton Road North

444 – terminating at Woodyard garage

446 – running evening 466 route through Shawclough – omitting estate roads

461 – main roads only (no Back ‘O’th’ Moss, Bury old Road, Elmsfield estate)

464 – operating as normal

475 – running Bury – Heywood only, omitting Topping Fold and Fairfield Hospital Grounds

476 – not serving Hunstanton Drive / Woodhill Rd, Fairfield Hospital Grounds, Terminating at Woodyard Garage

477 – not serving Nangreaves, Chesham, Summerseat or Nuttall Lane

480 – not serving Affetside, 273 route between Walves & Bradshaw

482 – operating but omitting Booth Crescent and part of Booth road

483 – not serving Fairfield Hospital Grounds, turning at Jericho

485 – not serving Tanners Brow or Peel Estate

Arriva

Bolton depot: All services running normally apart from the following

541 – terminating at Bromley Cross library

534/8 – terminating at Astley Bridge Pineapple

Wythenshawe depot: All services running normally apart from the following

13 – operating from Altrincham to Malton Road / Seamons Road

380/381/386 (Stockport) – Underhill, Goyt Valley, Ridgeway and Cherry Lane Estates not being served.

246 – operating to Bowden via Dunham Road and Park Road – then normal route to Altrincham (note: one-way only on Langham Road and Ashley Road so passengers from Altrincham will have to do full route)

247 – omitting Partington, Wood Lane Estate

ML1 – operating between Stretford Arndale and Manchester

Manchester depot: All services running normally apart from the following

10 – running but cannot serve Brookhouse

69/70/71/73 – Eccles services running (main roads only)

Skelmersdale depot: Currently operating no services

St Helens depot: is operating services to Wigan (but severely delayed)

156 – operating normal route but not serving Ashtons Green Estate

320 – operating normal service

352 – operating normal service

620 – operating normal service

34 – now operating full service

Stagecoach

Hyde Road depot:

42 – usual Route

42A – no service to Millgate Lane, otherwise as usual

50 – terminating at Albert Square

x57 – usual route

74 – usual route except not serving Woodhouses Estate

76 – usual route except not serving Limeside

142/143/145 – usual route

168 – not serving Longsight entre & North Moor Road/Stovell Avenue or Clockhouse Estate

169 – normal route except operating via Oldham Roadinstead of Taunton Road into Centre of Ashton

171 – service operating between Chatsworth Road and Withington. Operating direct along Mount Road. No service to Millgate lane or Ryder Brow

191 – terminating at Albert Square

192 – usual route

197 – terminating at Albert Square

201 – using Mottram Road to Stockport Road instead of Hattersley estate

203 – usual route

204 – operating Manchester to Haughton Green only

205 – usual route

206 – usual route except not serving Haughton Green

216 – usual route

219 – usual route

220 – usual route

221 – not serving Yew Tree Lane or Tennyson Avenue Estates.

231 – operating normal route between Manchester, Littlemoss and New Market Road. Then direct via Oldham Road into Ashton and Tameside Hospital. Not serving Broadoak, Hartshead or Hurst

Princess Road depot:

256 – now running normal route

255 – now operating through to the Greyhound at Partington (but not serving estates)

104 – now running normal route

105 – now running as 43 service from Sharston to Wythenshawe Bus Station then normal route to airport

109 – now running normal route

43 – normal to Airport

101 – now running normal route

143/142 – normal

X50/250 – normal

111 – running but not serving Moss Lane East, Claremont Road, Yew Tree Road, Burton Road & Barlow Moor Road

15 – running normal route but not serving Broadway

84 – running normal route but not serving Arrowfield Road

85/86 – now running normal route

41 – normal

46/47 – not serving Burton Rd

Stockport depot:

179 – now running normal route

317 – operating but not servicing St Petersgate, High Street, Wellington Street, Half Moon Lane and Crosswaite Road Offerton – subject to delays

All other services operating normally.

Ashton depot:

7 – normal route

216 – Normal route

217/218 – terminating Stalybridge/Tameside Hospital not serving Brushes estate or Mossley

236 – normal route

237 – running as 236 to Henry St not serving Royal oak Tintwhistle or Hadfield

330 – normal

345 – normal

346 – service now running between Ashton and Hyde – not serving Gee Cross

347 – normal

375 – terminating at Mellor, Devonshire Arms, not serving Shiloh Road

389 – suspended

390 – now operating normal service

JP Travel

All services are running with the following exceptions:

13/129 – suspended

156 – operating as normal but not serving Langley

406 – expected to start 0930 and not serve Park Estate

486 – suspended

South Lancs Travel

126 – normal service

132 – normal service

300 – running normal service but with delays

514 – will not serve Ladybridge and terminate at Parklands (not operating via Middlebrook)

516 – will not serve Washacre or Middlebrook and will terminate at Horwich Crown (all journeys will run as 516 – no 517s)

521 – running from A6 / M61 roundabout to Farnworth

592 – running normally but not serving Shakerley or Hag Fold

614 – operate direct via main road to Cale Lane

624 – operate to Worsley Hall only – turning at Sherwood Drive

630 – Wigan – Platt Bridge only – but not serving the estates

635 – operating normally Wigan to Randalls Corner (Booths Oil Depot)

638 / 639 – operating Wigan to Standish Pepper Lane

640 / 641 – operating Wigan to Standish Pepper Lane

654 – operating from Leigh to Walkden only, and will not serve Garrett Hall Estate

664/674 – operating Wigan-Worsley Hall only

685 – operating normally but not serving Shakerley and will not operate around Garrett Hall estate

686 – will terminate at Atherton (not serving Hag Fold)

Bluebird

72 – service running part route from Chadderton – Manchester

77 – running full route

78 – running as normal (with delays) but may terminate at Day drive

112 – running partial route Middleton – Manchester (via main roads only)

151 – running partial route from Newton Heath to Monsall

159 – running partial route Middleton – Oldham

181/182 – running partial route Manchester – Chadderton

188 – running partial route Whitemoss – Manchester

Maytree Travel

505 – Horwich running but not serving Markland Hill, Brazley and Pennine Rd. The 505 – to Markland Hill only will not operate.

553/559 – missing Willows Lane/Deane Church Lane

526/544/550/557 – suspended

525/527 – running but not serving Smithills or Hall I’th Wood Estate

512/513 – operating but not serving Farnworth Train Station, Hulme Rd, Folds Rd and Park Lane

Speedwell

S50 – normal route

341 – not serving Gamesly

342 – suspended

343 – suspended

344 – suspended

Checkmate

220 – now operating

345 – suspended

418 – not serving Cooper Street

Belle Vue Coaches

277 – not operating

Jim Stones

587 – service operating normally but not serving Hurst Street

590 – service operating normally but not serving Kings Avenue

682 – service operating normally not serving Oxford Road Loop

All other services running normally.

Bu-Val

All services running via main roads only.

Goodwins

285 / 286 – services suspended

Strawberry Bus

1 – not serving Orrell and Upholland

Stotts

41 – serving main roads only

337 – not serving Tennyson Avenue

364 – not serving Bosden farm

407 – serving main Ripponden Road only

First West Yorkshire

590 – Halifax to Rochdale running normal service

Wigan Bus

All services operating (main roads only)

LATEST:

This will mean that Westhoughton residents will have to wait until next week, on the 28th December, for a grey bin collection only. Recycling collections for beige and burgundy bins will commence on 4th January.

The council told us the following in an e-mail:

“Just to confirm that the majority of waste services have regrettably been suspended today 21^st December.

This was due to the heavy snowfall over the weekend and the cold conditions this morning (-5).

Before we suspended the service for the day an assessment took place around the collection zone ( mainly Westhoughton, Blackrod, Hunger Hill, Deane) and it was deemed to be unsafe to provide any collections.

The next grey residual collection will now take place on the 28^th December. If residents find it necessary we will take up-to 2 bags of excess waste on this day provided waste is presented property in sacks and tied up.

The next recycling collection (paper, glass, cans and plastic bottles) will take place on Monday  4^th January

Residents should be advised to bring in containers from the collection point and re-present them on the next scheduled pick up (as above)

An assessment shall take place in the morning on tomorrows collections.”

Residents and road users are being asked for their views on winter gritting in Bolton.

In light of last winter’s difficult conditions, Bolton Council is reviewing its approach to gritting, and wants feedback on its service.

A survey asking people for their views on the policy is available online at www.bolton.gov.uk/wintergritting or call the consultation and research team on 01204 332012 to obtain a paper copy.

Westhoughton South Liberal Democrat Cllr David Wilkinson called for a review in December and said he was pleased people in Bolton would be part of it. Cllr Wilkinson, who sits on the winter gritting panel, said: “We have learned a lot so far in terms of the work that goes into the gritting operation and I am delighted that people who use the roads will also get their say.”

A Council spokesperson said: “We know it may seem a bit daft to be talking about winter gritting in May but we want to know what the public see as priorities before we put together our next winter gritting scheme.

He added: “We do grit around half of our total road network, which is more than a lot of other local authorities. Following some of the most severe weather conditions in 20 years, the council actually spent an extra £580,000 last winter to make roads and footpaths safer for local residents and road users.”

There are currently 25 gritting routes totalling 430km of road, and around 30 to 40 tonnes of salt are used each time the routes are gritted. The council also places 533 grit bins around the borough.

Council crews work around the clock if there is snow forecast or if the temperature of the road surface is anticipated to freeze.

The Winter Scrutiny committee, comprising councillors from all the Council’s political parties, will look all the feedback received and use this as a basis to make recommendations for the next winter gritting maintenance scheme. 

These will be then developed further during an Environmental Services Policy Development Group.

The closing date for feedback is Friday, June 13.

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