Joan Davies and Kevin Peel take action to stop buses idling with engines on in the city centre.

City centre resident and campaigner Joan Davies and Councillor Kevin Peel are working together to stamp out the bad practice of buses idling with their engines on in the Northern Quarter and across the city centre.

Joan and Kevin have made 49 complaints to transport officials over the last three months naming and shaming companies engaging in this practice, which is already against the operating guidelines.

Joan said “If you live near a point where buses, coaches and taxis wait you’ll realise just how annoying an idling engine can be. Kevin and I are determined to stop this practice from happening in the city centre, but we need your help. If you see it, report it.”

City centre neighbours have called for an end to the ‘nightmare’ of hundreds of buses choking up their street.

People living on Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter say they cannot open their windows because of the noise and air pollution.

They say double and single decker vehicles travel down the street at a rate of almost one per minute at peak times.

Now they’re calling on First, the bus company which runs the majority of buses from the one-way street, to consider using nearby Shudehill Bus Station, which residents say is underused.

First say they are working with local authorities to tackle any problems. Labour & Co-op Councillor for Manchester City Centre Kevin Peel said that he had twice written to First Manchester to request a meeting to discuss the issue.

He added: “It’s a complete nightmare for residents. One told me that she can’t open her window for half an hour without her windowsill acquiring a thick layer of dirt.”

Douglas Field, 38, whose flat on Thomas Street backs on to Oldham Street, said: “I knew when I moved in that this was a lively place, with lots of bars and people going out.

“ But I didn’t quite reckon for the incessant rattle and hum of the buses.”

A spokesman for First said: “We are aware that some residents in the Oldham Street area have raised issues regarding buses. We are busy working in partnership with the local authorities to address these issues.

“It is important to remember that Oldham Street has been a major bus terminus for years and is an important transport hub for many bus routes.”

This article was taken from the Manchester Evening News on Monday 29th August.