RESIDENTS in a Barnsley MP’s constituency have had their say on a groundbreaking deal which will bring buses back into public ownership.
Marie Tidball MP, who represents Penistone and Stocksbridge, recently held a ‘Better Buses’ constituency meeting with South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard to hear from residents across her constituency about the changes that they would like to see to the bus network in their communities.
The meeting, which took place in Cawthorne, gave constituents the opportunity to voice their experiences and suggestions for improvements to the bus network to Marie and Oliver.
During the meeting, both Marie and Oliver listened to residents’ suggestions for what improvements they would like to see and to answer their questions about the bus franchising process.
Earlier this March, Mr Coppard announced that buses across South Yorkshire will return to public control under a new system of bus franchising, which will give the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) the power to set routes, fares and services.
The newly-franchised buses are set to be rolled out across most of Sheffield in 2027, and across Barnsley in 2028.
Marie said: “Thank you to all the constituents who attended the meeting and shared their experiences and ideas improvements to our bus network and ways to better connect our communities.
“Our Labour government knows that local people have the potential to be the beating heart of British growth and that good, well-connected, public transport unleashes that potential.
“Most recently, the Bus Services Bill has empowered mayors like South Yorkshire’s to bring buses back into public control, giving people a proper say on the essential services that they rely on.
“I’ll be using all the feedback I’ve collected, from the meeting, along with correspondence and conversations with constituents, to keep fighting for the improvements to our local transport network that you want to see.”
Mr Coppard added: “When I was a kid, we had a world-class bus network in South Yorkshire - 2p fares, reliable services and routes that ran right across the region.
“But after changes were made to how bus networks were managed in the 1980s, we’ve seen our buses go into a spiral of decline.
“In March, together with the leaders of South Yorkshire’s councils, including Sir Steve Houghton, we agreed to move towards the next phase of the franchising process.
“That means that over the next few years, we have the chance to get back to reliable, frequent and more comprehensive services, through public control of routes, fares, and timetables.
“To get that right we need to hear from local people, including those who use the bus and those who don’t.
“That’s why it was important to hear from residents in Cawthorne about what they want South Yorkshire’s bus network to look like.
“Marie is holding public meetings all across Penistone and Stocksbridge, so if you’ve not had your say yet, get along and let her know what needs to change.
“Together, we will build a transport network that works for everyone here in South Yorkshire.”
