SOUTH YORKSHIRE'S MAYOR CALLS FOR MEETING WITH TRANSPORT SECRETARY ON BUSES

Published 19 August 2022 at 12:15pm

South Yorkshire's Mayor Oliver Coppard has written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP to call for a meeting to discuss further action to help the crisis facing buses in the region.

In the letter he says:

"At a time where there are unprecedented pressures on living costs, public transport is an even more important lifeline for South Yorkshire. That is all the more true for those most impacted by the current economic pressures. The uncertainty created by short-term, muddled thinking, makes it impossible for people to make meaningful decisions about their healthcare, work or academic future...

"I am aware that discussions are underway between your department, operators and transport authorities on extending the Bus Recovery Grant (BRG) funding for a further three months. Whilst I welcome any additional funding that will help support services, I find it incredible that this is being proposed at such a late stage...

"Far from working with metro mayors like me to deliver a frequent, efficient and affordable public transport system in places like South Yorkshire, there is seemingly a poverty of ambition at the heart of this government’s plans.

In order to move matters forward I am asking you for 3 things:

• Devolution of any extension of BRG to the SYMCA to ensure those funds are allocated against local priorities and not just used to support commercial priorities, or prop-up profit margins of operators.

• Any extension of funding applies equally to light rail - this is an important part of our local transport infrastructure facing similar challenges to bus services.

• I am again asking you to give serious consideration to my previous request for meaningful, long-term support. Officials from DFT must engage with my team to develop proposals that deliver growth in passenger numbers and lead to a sustainable network, an ambition that I’m sure we both share.

I look forward to your response and would welcome a meeting with you."

Download the full letter (PDF, 476kb)