Town says no more bus cash until it has tram link
BBCA council leader has said he will refuse to support an increase in local bus funding unless a "firm commitment" was secured for a key new tram line in Greater Manchester.
Mayor Andy Burnham recently announced that a £2 bus fare cap in the city region would continue into 2025, despite the fare rising to £3 nationally.
But Mark Hunter, leader of Stockport Council, has said he would not support the plan by approving an increase in locally-funded bus subsidies until a long-promised expansion of the Metrolink network into the town was finalised.
In response, Mr Burnham said: "To actually build it we need to get the business case through, then hopefully we will get the green light."
In the recent Budget, the government confirmed that the £2 single bus fare cap would be hiked to £3 for most of England in January.
In Greater Manchester, though, Mr Burnham confirmed fares would remain at the current rate "for the whole of 2025 but subject to a mid-year review".
But in order to keep the arrangement in place it would require either more passengers, a grant from central government or an increase in council funding.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is partly funded through a levy contribution from the region's 10 local councils which, in 2024/25, was worth £119m.
However, councils in Stockport, Wigan and Bolton are the only authorities which contribute funding but are not connected to the Metrolink network.
Mr Hunter said "in a time of great financial difficulty" he would not support a rise in the transport levy to subsidise bus fares, especially while the town was still waiting to be connected to the Metrolink network.
The Liberal Democrat continued: "We're still waiting for a firm commitment that the next extension of Metrolink will be to Stockport.
"Unless we get that firm commitment, then there is no way I can agree to an increase in the transport levy".
A strategic outline business case, which will look at the viability of the proposed link, is expected to be completed by autumn 2025.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority would then need to ask central government for the money, expected to be several hundred million pounds.
Mr Burnham said: "If this government doesn't do the right thing, I will call them out. This city region is growing now and I wont let politics inside the Labour Party put that at risk."
The government will look at transport funding as part of a long-term spending review in Spring 2025.
The Department for Transport said: “Greater Manchester is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and it is right for local leaders to decide how to invest this."
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