FIRST PUBLIC DROP-IN EVENTS START AS PEOPLE URGED TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON TAKING BACK CONTROL OF OUR BUSES

Published 5 November 2024 at 12:07pm

People across South Yorkshire are being urged to have their say on proposals to take bus services back under public control as a series of consultation drop-in events start next week. The events will raise awareness of the consultation and will, in particular, be aimed at those who cannot fill in the questionnaire online.  

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) are putting on the events as part of a public consultation to get the views of people, businesses, and organisations in the region on proposals to introduce bus franchising.  

The first drop-in event is being held at Montgomery Hall Theatre, Rotherham, between 5pm and 7pm on Tuesday 12th November 2024. You can sign up for this event here.  

There are more public drop-in events planned for right across the region throughout November and December. 

The drop-in events are part of a 12-week public consultation which has launched into how buses should be run in the region and 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. 

The drop-in events, which are happening right across Doncaster, Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham, are being facilitated by the consultation team to assist anyone who wants more information on the franchising proposals or who haven’t been able to complete the questionnaire online at www.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/bus-reform.  

Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Martin Swales OBE, said: “It is vital that we hear from the public, businesses, and a range of organisations about what they think about our proposals to bring bus services back under public control through bus franchising. We want to bring the consultation to the attention of the public. 

“That’s why I would urge as many people as possible to attend and have their say, so we can decide the best way forward to a better-connected region that works for everyone who lives and works here.  

“We have arranged these drop-in events to help people find out what we are proposing, ask questions and get assistance filling out the questionnaire from our team.” 

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.  

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 public drop-in the 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. The deadline to respond to the consultation is 11.59pm 15 January 2025. 

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.