REGION’S YOUNG PEOPLE URGED TO TAKE PART IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE BUS CONSULTATION AS IT HITS HALFWAY MARK

Published 4 December 2024 at 2:25pm

South Yorkshire’s young people are being called upon to have their say on how buses are run in the region as a major consultation into plans to take buses in South Yorkshire back under public control hits the halfway point. 

So far, 4,321 people have responded to the consultation but the region’s young people are being urged to make their voices heard.  

The halfway point this week comes as a series of engagement events start at colleges, universities and student unions across South Yorkshire to help young people understand the consultation and help them to fill in the survey. 

As part of this, SYMCA staff went to an event at Sheffield College on Wednesday 4 December to speak to students, including members of The Sheffield College Students’ Union.

The consultation, which runs until Wednesday 15th January, aims to get the views of people, businesses and organisations in South Yorkshire on proposals to introduce bus franchising. 

Under bus franchising, SYMCA would take control of the bus network including depots, bus fleets, routes, timetables, service standards, tickets and fares.  

Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Martin Swales  OBE, said: “Young people have a lot at stake when it comes to having their say on how we run our buses, so it’s vital that we hear what they think about the proposals to bring bus services back under public control through bus franchising. 

“It’s so important that as many people as possible respond to the consultation, so we can decide the best way forward to a better-connected region that works for everyone who lives and works here.” 

Shaden Abdullah, a student at The Sheffield College, said: “Currently I’m a regular bus user, I use the buses to travel everywhere, especially to college. 

“I unfortunately have to take up to four buses a day and it’s a long journey for me to just get to college. 

“It’s very important, especially for young people, to get involved in the consultation, as many work professionals and students use the buses every day to access opportunities.”

Jacob Osbourne, Vice President for Activities at The Sheffield College, said: “Today I missed one of my buses as it just didn’t show up, which made me late. 

“I think it’s important for people to have their say because people are being left stuck and it makes them late for college and education and it just affects the whole flow of work.”

Drop-in events

As well as the college, university and student union events there are also public drop-in events which are happening right across Doncaster, Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham.

For anyone who wants more information on the franchising proposals or who hasn’t been able to complete the questionnaire online at www.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/bus-reform then come along to one of our drop-in events.  

At the public drop in events you can expect to meet the team working on the consultation, who will be available to answer your questions and provide copies of the consultation document and other supporting documents. There will also be questionnaires onsite for you to fill in on the day.  

How to have your say on the future of buses  

The 12-week consultation is running until Wednesday 15 January 2025.  

If you want to get involved and give your views about the proposals in the bus franchising consultation, you can read the full consultation or summary of it and respond by using the long or short questionnaire on SYMCA’s website. 

All the information you need and the questionnaires are available here. 

You can find out more about the public drop-in events, see the full list and how to sign up here. 

The consultation is open to all members of the public, businesses and organisations. You do not have to be located or live in South Yorkshire to take part. 

Following the consultation, the results will be published, and a final decision is expected to be made on the future of South Yorkshire’s buses in Spring 2025.