Road Safety & Public Transport
Since the tragic crash on Wigan Road that took the lives of four people and left several others injured, our community has been united in grief and determination. I have been working tirelessly to push for stronger action to prevent anything like this from happening again.
Local people have raised concerns for years about dangerous driving, excessive speed and repeated collisions on this stretch of road. This devastating incident has only strengthened my resolve to secure meaningful change that protects lives.
In the weeks that followed, I called on the Government to introduce Graduated Driving Licences, which have been proven internationally to reduce serious collisions involving young and newly qualified drivers. I have also urged ministers to take immediate steps to improve safety on known high‑risk roads, including stronger speed enforcement and earlier intervention from local authorities before lives are lost.
I will continue to press for a comprehensive approach that includes road safety education for young drivers, targeted enforcement, and the resources councils need to act quickly when communities raise concerns. I was due to speak in a debate on this recently, but was unable to due to personal circumstances. You can read the speech I planned to give here.
Alongside this work on road safety, I have been lobbying Transport for Greater Manchester to deliver the modern, reliable and integrated public transport system our area has waited for far too long.
I have called for:
- Better bus services, with more reliable routes and improved coverage across Bolton and the surrounding towns
- Investment in rail, to ensure our trains are frequent, accessible and fit for purpose. I asked the Prime Minister in February of 2025 what the government was doing to ensure the trains ran on time. I’m delighted that our rail lines are coming into the Bee Network where there will be local accountability for delays and cancellations
- A Metrolink extension to Bolton, connecting communities like Walkden, Little Hulton and Farnworth with jobs, education and health services across Greater Manchester
Bringing the Metrolink to Bolton would be transformational. It would cut congestion, boost local growth, improve air quality and give residents the convenient, affordable public transport they deserve. I wrote to Transport for Greater Manchester as part of their 2050 Transport Strategy consultation, which you can also fill out here.
Finally, I have been raising the issue of unfair fines and drop off charges at Manchester Airport, after many residents raised this as an issue with me. Unclear signs, a lack of places to pay on site and a baffling system of barrier-less entry has led to so many people paying fines for simply trying to do the right thing. I held a debate on this in Parliament where we heard from so many other MPs who had constituents reporting the same issues. The Minister heard our arguments and agreed that airports need to be much more transparent about fees and charges.