Campaign for more public input in running of buses

The Better Buses for South Yorkshire is campaigning for more public input into the way services are run

A campaign is calling for residents and workers to have greater input into the way bus services are run in the county.

In March, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) announced that the region's buses would be brought back under public control, with the £25m change-over aimed be complete by the end of 2027.

The Better Buses for South Yorkshire (BBSY) campaign said in an open letter that it "welcomed" the announcement and called for a "South Yorkshire Transport Board" to work alongside the mayor and council representatives.

The SYMCA's Matt Goggins said they wanted to hear from bus users, unions and others to "directly" to get their views.

The letter from the BBSY said: "Such a body would also be invaluable to the SYMCA as it would provide an authentic local voice in any bid for equitable funding from central government for maintaining and improving local services."

It added that the body should include "representatives of bus user groups, workers in the industry, community organisations, disability groups and other civil society bodies".

BBSY campaigner Roy Morris said he was worried that "when routes are being franchised out, companies could reduce working conditions and pay less".

Fran Postlethwaite, from the group, added: "Passengers and industry workers need to be at the heart of developing and running services under public control."

Mr Goggins, Director of Bus Reform at the SYMCA, said: "We are committed to working with user groups, trade unions, stakeholders and hearing from the public directly to get their views on what the service will look like, from priorities for the bus network to vehicle design."

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