LEIGH'S poor public transport system is to be addressed by a leading Government minister.

Transport Minister Tony McNulty has pledged to look into the public transport provision in the town after an impassioned speech in the House of Commons by Leigh MP Andy Burnham.

Mr Burnham called on the multi-million pound Leigh guided busway project to be brought back on track and improve bus and train links in the borough.

He said: "As the growing debate about transport priorities in the North-west has gone live, I have felt increasing frustration about the raw deal my constituents are getting. Last year a major transport scheme in my constituency, the Leigh-Salford-Manchester guided busway was one of a number of schemes placed on hold pending a review of transport priorities by the North West Regional Assembly.

"I believe that Leigh's transport needs are becoming lost in the debate about Metrolink. It would seem that the guided busway has been thrown back into the pot of medium and low priority public transport schemes in the North-west."

Mr McNulty said: "Let me make it very clear. We certainly recognise the merits of the Leigh guided busway scheme. That is precisely why it was given provisional approval in the first place. But since then the cost of the total quality bus contract scheme has gone up significantly, with Government contributions increasing by £17million to £42.3 million.

"Given other funding pressures in the North-west it has not been possible to prioritise the scheme for funding in the current spending review period.

"I will look further into the points that he (Andy Burnham) raises."