BUS and tram journeys are taking longer after controversial traffic restrictions were eased in Hillsborough, it has been revealed.
Sheffield Council made the decision to allow traffic through the bus and tram gates between 11am and 3pm from Monday to Saturday and all day on Sundays after pressure from traders.
But a council study has found the percentage of bus services arriv
ing on time during the "inter-peak" period has fallen by 9.6 per cent, from 70.2 per cent to 60.6 per cent.
They compared a period between November 7 2008 and February 7 2009 with the same dates in 2009/10.
Simon Green, an executive director at the council, said: "Initial findings have begun to indicate some trends emerging, for example increases in public transport journeys times, improvements in trade, less abuse of the bus and tram gate, fewer accidents and improvements to air quality."
The figures are based on a sample of bus services operating through Hillsborough, from November 2008 to January 2009, and then again for the same time period of 2009/10.
From Holme Lane to Hillsborough Interchange Monday to Friday journey time has increased on average by 22.8 seconds and journeys on Saturdays have increased on average by 54.6 seconds.
Buses between Hillsborough Interchange and Taplin Road, meanwhile, are an average of 15 seconds slower during the week and 36.6 seconds slower on Saturdays.
Weekday tram journey times have also increased by up to five minutes between Middlewood and Forbes Road.
The gates were introduced in February 1996 but motorists ignored the restrictions, causing delays to both buses and trams.
Between 2001 and 2006 bus passenger numbers in Hillsborough fell by 25 per cent compared with 11 per cent elsewhere in the city, and growth on the tram system slowed.
As a result, the tram gates began being enforced by cameras from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week, with motorists driving through them receiving a fine.
But residents and businesses claimed it was damaging "the economic well-being of Hillsborough centre" and the new restrictions were introduced in November.
The report concludes: "It is too early to draw conclusions as to whether the experiment has been a success or not.
"The period of this first monitoring report includes a settling in period where people would still have been unaware or unfamiliar with the new arrangements."
The relaxations will not be reversed for now and a second monitoring report is due in June.
Coun Bernard Little, of Sheffield Green Party, said: "Opening bus and tram gates to traffic during the day was a bad idea and now we have the evidence to prove it.
"Let's have the bus and tramgates re-installed so public transport users have a more reliable service."
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