Sheffield bus chaos petition raised with transport minister

Controversial Sheffield bus cuts which caused weeks of frustration have been raised with the Transport Minister.
Bus timetable and route changes caused chaos for travellers in SheffieldBus timetable and route changes caused chaos for travellers in Sheffield
Bus timetable and route changes caused chaos for travellers in Sheffield

Sheffield Council has now confirmed a letter about an online petition calling for the cuts to be reversed – which has been signed by 12,555 people – went to MP Patrick McLoughlin late last year after a town hall debate.

Widespread changes to city buses, brought in by the Sheffield Bus Partnership from November last year, caused long queues, delays and confusion for passengers.

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The letter requested that the problems be considered as part of the upcoming Buses Bill, which could provide the option for combined authority areas with directly-elected mayors to be responsible for the running of buses.

A proposed devolution deal for the Sheffield City Region includes creating a directly elected mayor.

The council is also part of the bus partnership.

Coun Tony Downing, the council’s cabinet assistant for environment and transport, said: “We were very sympathetic to the petitioners’ issues about the revised bus services in the city.

“I can confirm that a letter was sent to the Minister for Transport on December 1 – detailing the content of the petition and requesting for the matter to be considered as part of the forthcoming Buses Bill in this year’s Queen’s Speech.

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“A letter was also sent to the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive with details of the six bus petitions discussed at council.

“Bus services are to be discussed at a meeting of the council’s economic and environmental wellbeing scrutiny committee in March and petitioners will be welcome.”

Bus operator chiefs are to come under scrutiny at a different meeting in February.