Sheffield city centre bus gate plans divide opinion
“The changes are designed to prioritise buses on key routes through the city centre, helping public transport move more efficiently and providing quicker, more direct access to important destinations”
Plans to launch a new bus gate in Sheffield city centre and to bring a suspended one back into action have divided opinion.
The new one will be created on Furnival Gate as part of an effort by Sheffield Council to make bus journeys quicker, more reliable and easier for people travelling into and around the city centre.
An existing one which used to operate on the same street will come back into use again.
As part of the Connecting Sheffield programme, a new bus gate will be introduced on Furnival Gate near the top of Matilda Way, while an existing bus gate, on the opposite side of Furnival Gate, at the bottom of Pinstone Street will be brought back into operation.
While some readers praised the move for trying to keep traffic moving, others fear it will drive motorists out of the city centre.
Steve Wilson described the plan as “excellent” and said it will hopefully lead to a “a better service around town” and “less disturbance”.
And Liam Lambert said the move was “about time”.
Drivers entering the new bus gate at the top of Matilda Way will be issued with a warning for their first offence in the first six months of it becoming operational.
This rule will not apply to the existing bus gate, at the bottom of Pinstone Street, when it is turned back on.
Richard Boswell described the move as “money grabbing”.
And Bert Hill added: “Why don't they just build a wall around the city centre and have done with it.”
The cameras go live on September 19, at a similar time to when students return to university.
Kim Coldwell suggested the move had been “strategically designed to ensnare unsuspecting parents who will be bringing their children into Sheffield to start their university courses”.
She added: “It has nothing to do with reducing bus travel times and all to do with raking as much money in as possible from the cash cow motorists.”
Jamie Wright said the bus gates “put him off going anywhere near” the city centre.
David Fairey said the move was “just another nail in the coffin” for Sheffield city centre.
Simon Tongue agreed, adding: “How to keep killing the city centre off.”
Sheffield Council said: “The changes are designed to prioritise buses on key routes through the city centre, helping public transport move more efficiently and providing quicker, more direct access to important destinations.”