Askern, Campsall and Norton Bus Services

I wanted to say a big thank you  to everyone who attended the meeting in Norton on Friday with Oliver Coppard about bus services. I asked for the meeting because I know the very justified strength of feeling and it was incredibly well attended with almost 100 local residents attending.I know some couldn’t attend because it was during working hours.

Many residents shared their experiences of the bus service and how recent changes have had a significant impact on them from kids trying to get to school to those trying to get to work to the elderly and those with disabilities.

Oliver Coppard explained that funding for buses in South Yorkshire has been reduced significantly by the Conservative government, with another round of reduction in services at the end of this month. The Mayor had requested a further £205 million for buses but this had been rejected by the government.

Some routes are run by bus companies for profit and others are funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, so the reductions in funding means that they are unable to provide as many journeys as they would like to. Oliver Coppard explained that he is passionate about delivering a much better bus service for South Yorkshire, but some of the plans are medium to long term plans due to legislation.

Current legislation stops Oliver Copppard setting up a municipal bus company and makes him jump through hoops to get the control over services that London has. The Labour Party has committed to change this if we get into government.

Residents understood that transformation couldn’t happen overnight, but wanted as much done now as possible because the situation is so urgent.

Arriva also attended the meeting and it was agreed at the meeting that they are going to work with SYMCA to discuss amending the route of the 51 bus so it better met the needs of local residents. They will work with local representatives to ensure the views of local people are taken into account. This will be looked at in the next month and I will keep you updated. I know there is scepticism about whether Arriva will deliver what local people want and I understand that.

I will continue to do everything that I can to listen to constituents and press for a better service that meets the needs of local people–working alongside the Mayor and all local and parish councillors, including my Labour colleagues Austen White and Iris Beech who attended the meeting.

The meeting was a good start because the Mayor knows the strength of feeling, but I will keep fighting for change and improvement.