Stotts Tours (Oldham)
Encyclopedia
Stotts Tours, or Stotts for short, is one of the bus companies serving the area of Greater Manchester
, England
. The company, based in Oldham
, operates within the area covered by Transport for Greater Manchester.
was introduced in 1986, Stotts decided to have a go at running bus services. They acquired old buses, no longer being used, from other companies around the North of England and the Midlands. The company would run several services, all based in the Oldham area. The services were:
The company was popular with passengers, as they offered cheaper fares than GM Buses, who were the main bus operator in Oldham and Greater Manchester. The company would continue to operate buses until 1997 when First Manchester
, formerly GM Buses North, made an agreement with Stotts to take over some of their services and that Stotts would not be able to provide services for five years. So, with the exception of school services and the coach services, Stotts buses disappeared off the roads of Oldham and the 413 and 422 services were taken over by First. By 2005, those services were withdrawn by First.
Stotts also ran some contracted services from July 2003, funded by GMPTE in Stockport for a couple of years before losing the contract to Speedwellbus
. They were the 307/308 (Stockport - Cheadle - Bramhall - Hazel Grove) Circulars services and the 390 (Stockport - Hazel Grove - Poynton - Woodford - Bramhall) service.
After that, they concentrated on running the 427 service plus school services in the Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside areas. One tactic that Stotts used on their 427 service to compete with First was to introduce a maximum fare of 70p. This would help, as First would charge almost double to Stotts. In 2006, Stotts would have to increase that fare, due to increased fuel costs to £1.20, still slightly cheaper than First.
First were obviously concerned by Stotts' presence on the 427 service. In October 2004, they changed their services with the 427 and 429 services replaced by the 180 and 184, continuing to run the 10-minute frequency between Grotton and Hollinwood, with buses continuing to Manchester and Saddleworth or Huddersfield. First also introduced a 20-minute weekday 184 service between Grotton and Hollinwood. The combination of First's 180 and 184 services and Stotts' 427 service saw a bus running every 5 minutes between Grotton and Hollinwood.
After four years, Stotts' 427 service was still running, although the Saturday service was withdrawn in 2007. First's 184 service between Grotton and Hollinwood had changed to run as a 183 running between Grotton and Limeside. In December 2007, it was announced that Stott's will withdrawn operation of the 427 service from 3 January 2008. This meant that Stott's would not be running any normal bus services, although they will continue to operate the school bus services. However, in May 2008 Stotts regained a presence in the Stockport
area with Speedwellbus
losing the contract to run the 390 service to Stotts, taking over the 364 service from Stagecoach Manchester at the end of July 2008 .
Former services run by Stotts from 2003:
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The company, based in Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, operates within the area covered by Transport for Greater Manchester.
1986 to 1997
Stotts is a family-owned company, which originally set up to operate in the coach business and has been operating from their depot on Lees Road for a number of years as a hire coach, providing day trips and school trips for people in the Oldham area. When deregulationBus deregulation
Bus deregulation in Great Britain came into force on 26 October 1986, as part of the Transport Act 1985.The 'Buses' White Paper was the basis of the Transport Act 1985, which provided for the deregulation of local bus services in the whole of the United Kingdom except for Northern Ireland and...
was introduced in 1986, Stotts decided to have a go at running bus services. They acquired old buses, no longer being used, from other companies around the North of England and the Midlands. The company would run several services, all based in the Oldham area. The services were:
- 398 Grotton - Lees - Oldham - Hathershaw - Ashton (to compete with GM BusesGM BusesGM Buses was the main bus company serving Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. The company was public owned by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, which is a public body responsible for helping to co-ordinate public transport services in the Greater...
services 409 and 427.) - 413 Sholver - Moorside - Oldham - Royton - Thornham (to compete with GM Buses services 170 and 409.)
- 414/424 Oldham - Holts Estate - Lees - Waterhead - Oldham Circulars
- 416/417 Limeside - Oldham - Waterhead - Lees - Oldham - Werneth - Limeside Circulars
- 422 Oldham - Chamber Road - South Chadderton, Butterworth Lane
The company was popular with passengers, as they offered cheaper fares than GM Buses, who were the main bus operator in Oldham and Greater Manchester. The company would continue to operate buses until 1997 when First Manchester
First Manchester
First Manchester is one of the bus companies serving Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. It forms part of FirstGroup, a company operating transport services across the British Isles and in North America...
, formerly GM Buses North, made an agreement with Stotts to take over some of their services and that Stotts would not be able to provide services for five years. So, with the exception of school services and the coach services, Stotts buses disappeared off the roads of Oldham and the 413 and 422 services were taken over by First. By 2005, those services were withdrawn by First.
2003 to present
In March 2003, Stotts returned to operate bus services but would not be able to run as many services as they previously did. In fact, they started with just one service, the 427 between Grotton and Hollinwood via Lees, Oldham and Garden Suburb. Stotts' service would go head-to-head with First's 427/429 service, which also ran between Grotton and Hollinwood with First's 427 running to Uppermill and the 429 to Greenfield. First ran a Monday-Saturday daytime service of every 10 minutes, while Stotts' only ran every 20 minutes, with some services during the day not running, so they could run school bus services, which they had been doing for a few years before.Stotts also ran some contracted services from July 2003, funded by GMPTE in Stockport for a couple of years before losing the contract to Speedwellbus
Speedwellbus
Speedwellbus is a bus operator based in Hyde, Greater Manchester, England. It operates a fleet of 25 buses on commercial and contracted services. Operations commenced in 2002 with a service between Glossop and Tintwistle, and were expanded with the addition of contracts from Derbyshire County...
. They were the 307/308 (Stockport - Cheadle - Bramhall - Hazel Grove) Circulars services and the 390 (Stockport - Hazel Grove - Poynton - Woodford - Bramhall) service.
After that, they concentrated on running the 427 service plus school services in the Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside areas. One tactic that Stotts used on their 427 service to compete with First was to introduce a maximum fare of 70p. This would help, as First would charge almost double to Stotts. In 2006, Stotts would have to increase that fare, due to increased fuel costs to £1.20, still slightly cheaper than First.
First were obviously concerned by Stotts' presence on the 427 service. In October 2004, they changed their services with the 427 and 429 services replaced by the 180 and 184, continuing to run the 10-minute frequency between Grotton and Hollinwood, with buses continuing to Manchester and Saddleworth or Huddersfield. First also introduced a 20-minute weekday 184 service between Grotton and Hollinwood. The combination of First's 180 and 184 services and Stotts' 427 service saw a bus running every 5 minutes between Grotton and Hollinwood.
After four years, Stotts' 427 service was still running, although the Saturday service was withdrawn in 2007. First's 184 service between Grotton and Hollinwood had changed to run as a 183 running between Grotton and Limeside. In December 2007, it was announced that Stott's will withdrawn operation of the 427 service from 3 January 2008. This meant that Stott's would not be running any normal bus services, although they will continue to operate the school bus services. However, in May 2008 Stotts regained a presence in the Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
area with Speedwellbus
Speedwellbus
Speedwellbus is a bus operator based in Hyde, Greater Manchester, England. It operates a fleet of 25 buses on commercial and contracted services. Operations commenced in 2002 with a service between Glossop and Tintwistle, and were expanded with the addition of contracts from Derbyshire County...
losing the contract to run the 390 service to Stotts, taking over the 364 service from Stagecoach Manchester at the end of July 2008 .
Former services run by Stotts from 2003:
- 307/308 Stockport - Cheadle - Bramhall - Hazel Grove withdrawn in 2005
- 337 Ashton under Lyne - Crowhill - Ashton Moss - Ashton under Lyne Circular Merged with route 41 on 1 June 2010
- 353/4 Ashton under Lyne - Stalybridge - Heyheads - Mossley - Uppermill Taken over by First Manchester after re-tender
- 390 Stockport - Hazel Grove - Poynton - Bramhall withdrawn in 2005 - resumed operation from Speedwellbus in May 2008 - Stagecoach Manchester operating all journeys from Sept 2009
- 427 Grotton - Lees - Oldham - Garden Suburb - Hollinwood withdrawn from 3 January 2008
Public Services
This is a list of public services run by Stotts:| No. | From | To | Via | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Middleton Middleton, Greater Manchester Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester... |
Boarshaw | Until 6 November 2011 | |
| 41 | Dukinfield Dukinfield Dukinfield is a small town within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies in central Tameside on the south bank of the River Tame, opposite Ashton-under-Lyne, and is east of the city of Manchester... |
Crowhill (Circular) | Dukinfield, Ashton-under-Lyne Ashton-under-Lyne Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies on the north bank of the River Tame, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines... , Ashton Moss |
Weekday daytime only. Weekday evenings and weekend journeys run by First Manchester First Manchester First Manchester is one of the bus companies serving Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. It forms part of FirstGroup, a company operating transport services across the British Isles and in North America... |
| 154 | Bury Bury Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester... |
Cheetham Hill | Pilsworth Pilsworth Pilsworth is a small area in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester, England. It is most notable for Park 66, a leisure park that consists of a ten-pin bowling alley, an Asda superstore and a selection of restaurants such as Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito... , Unsworth Unsworth Unsworth is a residential area of the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It is seven miles north of the city of Manchester and four miles south of Bury.-History:... , Prestwich Prestwich Prestwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies close to the River Irwell, north of Manchester city centre, north of Salford and south of Bury.... , Carr Clough, Crumpsall Crumpsall Crumpsall is a suburban area and electoral ward of the city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It is about north of Manchester city centre... , North Manchester General Hospital |
Service runs a circular route between Crumpsall and Cheetham Hill |
| 407 | Oldham | Denshaw | Moorside, Pennine Meadows, Grains Bar | |
| 431 | Belfield | Castleton | Rochdale | Until 6 November 2011 |
| 441 | Rochdale Rochdale Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan... |
Syke | Foxholes | Until 6 November 2011 |
School Services
This is a list of school services run by Stotts:| No. | From | To | Via | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | Royton and Crompton School Royton and Crompton School Royton and Crompton School is a coeducational, secondary comprehensive school for 11 - 16 year olds in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.-External links:* *... |
Rushcroft | Shaw | |
| 121 | Delph Delph Delph is a village in the Saddleworth civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the Pennines on the River Tame below the village of Denshaw, east-northeast of Oldham, and north-northwest of Uppermill.The centre of the village has barely... |
Hulme Grammar School | Uppermill, Grotton, Springhead, Lees and Oldham | |
| 122 | Greenfield Greenfield, Greater Manchester Greenfield is a village in the Saddleworth parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. It is east of Oldham, and east-northeast of the city of Manchester... |
Hulme Grammar School | Grasscroft, Grotton, Waterhead, Oldham | |
| 125 | Mottram | The Blue Coat School The Blue Coat School, Oldham The Blue Coat School is a mixed gender Church of England Academy for 11–18 year olds, located in the town of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.... |
Stalybridge Stalybridge Stalybridge is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 22,568. Historically a part of Cheshire, it is east of Manchester city centre and northwest of Glossop. With the construction of a cotton mill in 1776, Stalybridge became one of... , Smallshaw, Abbeyhills |
|
| 127 | Gee Cross Gee Cross Gee Cross is a suburban village within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the edge of the town of Hyde and borders onto Woodley in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport... |
The Blue Coat School | Godley, Dukinfield Dukinfield Dukinfield is a small town within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies in central Tameside on the south bank of the River Tame, opposite Ashton-under-Lyne, and is east of the city of Manchester... , Stalybridge Stalybridge Stalybridge is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 22,568. Historically a part of Cheshire, it is east of Manchester city centre and northwest of Glossop. With the construction of a cotton mill in 1776, Stalybridge became one of... , Abbeyhills |
|
| 130 | Stalybridge | The Blue Coat School | Ridge Hill, Ashton-under-Lyne Ashton-under-Lyne Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies on the north bank of the River Tame, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines... , Hathershaw Hathershaw Hathershaw is an urban area of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It occupies a hillside to the immediate south of Oldham's town centre, and is bound by the districts of Coppice and Fitton Hill, on the northwest and southeast respectively... , Oldham |
|
| 183 350 |
Oldham | Saddleworth School Saddleworth School Saddleworth School is a mixed-sex secondary school for 11-16 year olds and is located in Uppermill, in the civil parish of Saddleworth in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, England. The school contains approximately 1300 students and 80 teachers.... |
Scouthead, Delph, Carrcote (350) | 350 runs in the morning, 183 runs in the afternoon |
| 184 427 |
Oldham | Saddleworth School | Lees Lees, Greater Manchester The village consists of a small cluster of shops and businesses on either side of the A669 Lees Road, surrounded by some terraced houses and some small estates... , Grotton Grotton Grotton is a relatively wealthy hamlet in Saddleworth, a civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. Grotton is a suburban area located along the A669 road, and forms a continuous urban area with Austerlands and Springhead, which in turn link to Lees and... , Grasscroft Grasscroft Grasscroft is one of the Saddleworth villages in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England.The village has two famous residents - current Manchester United and ex-England international Paul Scholes. Brian Cox also lives in the area.... , Uppermill Uppermill Uppermill is a village in Saddleworth—a civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England, historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. It lies on the River Tame in a valley amongst the South Pennines, east of Oldham, and east-northeast of Manchester... |
184 runs in afternoon only |
| 427 | Kaskenmoor School Kaskenmoor School Kaskenmoor School is a mixed gender comprehensive secondary school for 11 - 16 year old children in the Hollinwood area of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England.... |
Oldham | Garden Suburb | |
| 435 | Crompton House School Crompton House Crompton House Church of England High School is a mixed gender voluntary aided Church of England secondary school and sixth form for 11–18 year olds, located in the High Crompton area of Shaw and Crompton in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England... |
Rochdale Rochdale Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan... |
High Crompton High Crompton High Crompton is a locality in the west of the Shaw and Crompton parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It is formed around High Crompton Park and Rochdale Road.... , Turf Hill |
|
| 557 | The Blue Coat School | Oldham Mumps | Sholver, Denshaw, Delph | |
| 770 | Waterhead | St Damian's Science College | Lees, Holts Estate | |
| 774 | Oldham | New Charter Academy Greenhurst Campus | Abbeyhills, Holts Estate, St Damian's Science College | |
| 793 | Alkrington Alkrington Alkrington Garden Village, more commonly known as Alkrington, is a suburb of Middleton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England.... |
Crompton House School | Middleton Middleton, Greater Manchester Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester... , Mills Hill, Royton Royton Royton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies by the source of the River Irk, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines, north-northwest of Oldham, south-southeast of Rochdale and northeast of the city of Manchester.Historically a... |
|
| 794 | Rhodes | Crompton House School | Moston Moston, Greater Manchester Moston is a district of Manchester, in North West England, approximately 3 miles north east of the city centre. Historically a part of Lancashire, Moston is a predominantly residential area, with a population of about 12,500 and covering approximately .-History:The name Moston may derive... , Radclyffe School, North Chadderton Lower School, Royton |
|
| 807 | Denshaw | Oldham | Pennine Meadows, Moorside | Morning journey only |
| 823 | Thornham | North Chadderton School North Chadderton School North Chadderton School is a mixed gender comprehensive school and sixth form for 11–18 year olds, located in Chadderton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. It has recently been given the specialist status as a Business and Enterprise College.-Admissions:The range... Lower Building |
Royton | |
| 828 | Mossley Mossley Mossley is a small town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. The town is located in the upper section of the Tame valley in the foothills of the Pennines, northeast of Ashton-under-Lyne and east of Manchester.Mossley has the distinction of... |
Saddleworth School | Greenfield | Morning journey only |
| 829 | Littleborough | The Blue Coat School | Rochdale, Milnrow Milnrow Milnrow is a suburban town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Beal at the foothills of the South Pennines, and forms a continuous urban area with Rochdale... , Newhey Newhey Newhey is a suburban village in the Milnrow area of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England... , Shaw Shaw and Crompton Shaw and Crompton is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Beal at the foothills of the South Pennines, north of Oldham, southeast of Rochdale, and to the northeast of the city of Manchester... |
|
| 830 | Royton and Crompton School | High Crompton | Royton, Thornham | |
| 831 | Thornham | North Chadderton School North Chadderton School North Chadderton School is a mixed gender comprehensive school and sixth form for 11–18 year olds, located in Chadderton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. It has recently been given the specialist status as a Business and Enterprise College.-Admissions:The range... Upper (morning only) and Lower Building |
Royton | |
| 832 | Shaw, Wren's Nest | North Chadderton School North Chadderton School North Chadderton School is a mixed gender comprehensive school and sixth form for 11–18 year olds, located in Chadderton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. It has recently been given the specialist status as a Business and Enterprise College.-Admissions:The range... Upper Building |
High Crompton, Royton | |
| 839 | Roundthorn | St Annes R.C. Primary School | Glodwick | |
| 870 | Ridge Hill | St Damian's Science College | Stalybridge, Copley High School, Millbrook, Mossley Hollins High School | |
| 887 | Lane Head | St Cuthbert's RC High School | Daniel Fold, Greave, Sudden, Castleton Castleton, Greater Manchester Castleton is an area of Rochdale and an electoral ward of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It is south-southwest of Rochdale town centre and north-northwest of the city of Manchester.... |
|
| 893 | Alrkington | The Blue Coat School | Moston, Coalshaw Green, Chadderton | |
| 913 | Our Lady's RC High School Our Lady's R.C. High School, Royton Our Lady's R.C. High School was a Roman Catholic high school and sixth form for 11-18 year olds, located in Royton, in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.), The school was a specialist school in Mathematics and Computing, and contained over 80 members of staff, with... |
Sholver | Oldham Mumps, Moorside, Pennine Meadows |