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Have your say on the future of our buses

SYMCA bus franchising consultation

The public consultation is now open


South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is consulting on taking back control of our buses through bus franchising.

Buses are the most used mode of public transport in South Yorkshire, and SYMCA now has the power to reform bus services to make sure they work for the public.

Since 1986, bus services in the region have been deregulated. This means that private bus operators are responsible for setting routes, timetables, service standards, fares and tickets and run services to make a profit.

Bus franchising is where a transport authority such as SYMCA takes control of how buses are run; owning the depots and the bus fleet. If, following the consultation, the Mayor decides to proceed with bus franchising buses will be taken back under public control.

This will give SYMCA powers to decide:

  • what routes buses take 
  • what times they run
  • the quality of the service
  • how many ticket options are available
  • what the fares will cost 
  • how to improve the reliability of the bus network
  • how buses, trams and trains can connect with each other.

As a public body, SYMCA can reinvest any profit back into improving the system for the public.

Equally, SYMCA would be responsible for any revenue shortfall should costs exceed the fares revenue.

Under bus franchising private operators would bid for contracts to run bus services and will be held to account for running a good quality, punctual and reliable service. 

The consultation document provides more details on the proposals.

Why we are consulting

The government has set out a number of steps SYMCA must follow before it can introduce bus franchising. This includes commissioning an assessment looking at different options for running bus services which concluded that bus franchising is the best option to deliver SYMCA’s strategic objectives.

The next step is to carry out this statutory public consultation.

This consultation will inform a decision by South Yorkshire’s Mayor on whether or not to introduce the Proposed Franchising Scheme.

How long is the consultation open for?

The consultation will run for 12 weeks and will close at 11:59 on 15 January 2025.

Who can take part in the consultation?

Anyone can take part in the consultation. You do not have to live in South Yorkshire. You can answer as a member of the public or in an official capacity. If you are answering in an official capacity, your response may be published. Information provided by members of the public will be made anonymous.  

How to have your say

Step 1

Read the information in the Consultation Document (PDF 4.3 mb) or the Consultation Summary (PDF 540 kb).

Step 2

Complete our short or long questionnaire (opens external website) (short recommended for members of the public).

If you are unable to fill in an online questionnaire, you can also take part by:


For more information call our contact centre on: 0800 952 0002

What happens next

Following the consultation period, a report will be created assessing the responses. SYMCA will then consider this report and produce a response to the consultation.  

Recommendations will then be made to the Mayor on whether to introduce the Proposed Franchising Scheme. 

Inspection of consultation documents

For those wishing to inspect a physical copy of the consultation document, the Assessment and the Independent Review, copies will be available at the following locations from 23rd October 2024 until 15th January 2025:

  • SYMCA, 11 Broad Street West, Sheffield, S1 2BQ 
  • Doncaster Central Library, Waterdale, DN1 3BZ, during its usual opening hours
  • Barnsley Central Library, 1 The Glass Works, S70 1G, during its usual opening hours
  • Sheffield Central Library, Surrey St, S1 1XZ, during its usual opening hours
  • Rotherham Central Library, Main Street, S60 1AE, during its usual opening hours

Documents









Privacy

All personal information (such as gender, age) provided will be treated confidentially and will only be used for analysis of the key findings and trends in this consultation. You can read the Privacy Notice for more information. Please be aware that if you are answering in an official capacity your responses to the questions may be published.

Translations


Public information drop-in events

You can come and speak to us at a series of public information drop-in events across South Yorkshire which are taking place throughout the consultation period. At these events you can expect to meet people who will be available to answer your questions and provide copies of the questionnaire for you to fill in.

Event list

LocationDateTimeSign up to attend
Montgomery Hall Theatre, Rotherham, S63 7RD12 November 202417:00 - 19:00Sign up for Montgomery Hall
Norton Coronation Working Men’s Club, Doncaster, DN6 9DH
14 November 202417:00 - 19:00
Sign up for Norton
Smithy Moor Community Centre, Sheffield, S36 1LA19 November 2024
17:00 - 19:00
Sign up for Smithy Moor
Digital Media Centre, Barnsley, S70 2JW21 November 2024
17:00 - 19:00
Sign up for Digital Media Centre
The Workstation, Showroom, Sheffield, S1 2BX25 November 202416:00 - 18:00Sign up for The Workstation
Riverside House, Main St, Rotherham, S60 1AE
26 November 2024
10:00 - 14:00
Sign up for Riverside House
Frenchgate Shopping Centre, Doncaster
27 November 202410:00 - 14:00Sign up for Frenchgate
Pentecostal Community Church, Market St, Goldthorpe, S63 9HA
2 December 202417:00 - 19:00Sign up for Pentecostal
Penistone Library, High St, Sheffield, S36 6BR
3 December 202410:00 - 14:00Sign up for Penistone
The Thomas Chambers Newton Memorial Hall, Sheffield
4 December 202414:00 - 16:00Sign up for Memorial Hall
Methodist Church, Stanwood Drive, Sheffield, S6 5HZ
10 December 202413:00 - 15:00Sign up for Methodist Church
Crystal Peaks Library - Artspace, 1-3 Peak Square, Sheffield, S20 7PH 
11 December 202415:00 - 17:00Sign up for Crystal Peaks Library


Look out for more events being added in the future. 

Related press releases

Contact us for general enquiries

If you have any questions, need to respond in a different way or require consultation materials in a different format, you can get in touch with us via:

Language translations

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