Oldham Council campaigns on 'unfair' First Bus fares

Oldham Council is launching a campaign for a "fairer deal" for local residents on bus fares.

It claims First Bus is charging people who live in the town between 13% and 50% more to travel than other operators in Greater Manchester.

First Bus said it had a "standard fare structure across Greater Manchester" with customers across the region paying the same fares.

The council is to lobby Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) on the issue.

Council leader Jim McMahon said: "First Bus has a near monopoly on bus services in our borough and the wider north Manchester area.

"That wouldn't necessarily be a problem if the fares were comparative, but the figures we have do not appear to suggest this is the case.

"We believe people in Oldham are paying too much for their bus fares."

A spokesman for First Bus said: "We have a standard fare structure across our whole Greater Manchester network and so our customers in Oldham pay the same as customers across the region.

"We are happy to discuss this matter with Oldham Council and will look at ways we can work in partnership with them."

Bus fares in Oldham are set by the bus companies.

Oldham Council currently subsidises services for schools that have relocated as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme.