Fury as bus companies announce devastating plan to slash services by a third in South Yorkshire

By George Torr, Local Democracy Reporter
Published 30th Jun 2022, 00:01 BST
Updated 30th Jun 2022, 12:02 BST
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A devastating plan by bus companies to slash services across South Yorkshire by a third has sparked anger from politicians, business leaders and unions.

Sheffield and Rotherham will start to see reductions as soon as July 24 and more cuts are expected when the Government-issued Covid-19 grants end in October.

A tender process, which took place this week, listed a number of services in Sheffield and Rotherham being partially or axed completely.

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South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppardd said he was furious by the decision and blamed central government for facilitating the ‘biggest and most damaging cuts for a generation’.

Plans to cut bus services will start in Sheffield and Rotherham as soon as July 24.Plans to cut bus services will start in Sheffield and Rotherham as soon as July 24.
Plans to cut bus services will start in Sheffield and Rotherham as soon as July 24.

He’s called for £85 million over the next three years to keep services afloat while council leaders explore a franchise model.

Private operators have come under increasing pressure as patronage is still not back to pre-Covid levels and are planning for less income post October when government grants end.

Interim executive director of Sheffield Chamber, Louisa Harrison-Walker said that if London faced the closure of the Jubilee Line, Central Line and Circle Line, ‘there would be a national outrage’.

Sheffield

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppardd said he was furious by the decision and blamed central government for facilitating the ‘biggest and most damaging cuts for a generation’.South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppardd said he was furious by the decision and blamed central government for facilitating the ‘biggest and most damaging cuts for a generation’.
South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppardd said he was furious by the decision and blamed central government for facilitating the ‘biggest and most damaging cuts for a generation’.

The following routes will have no provider:

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Service 32/32a Sheffield – Firth Park – Parson Cross : Entire service will be withdrawn.

Service 135/135a Rotherham – Sheffield via Chapeltown: Early morning, evening and Saturday/Sunday services will be withdrawn.

Service 208 Whiston – Sheffield: Last evening trip from Sheffield – Whiston will be withdrawn. Sunday daytime service will be withdrawn.

Service X74 Sheffield – Tinsley Park: Some early morning and evening journeys withdrawn.

Rotherham

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