Protest over changes to bus services set to take place at Barnsley Interchange
It's due to go ahead from 11am this morning
Bus campaigners in South Yorkshire tell us they've been left feeling 'angry' following a number of recent service changes.
It's ahead of a protest this morning at Barnsley Interchange from 11am.
Ronnie Steele lives on the Broadway Estate in the town - He says since last October - the number of services there has reduced from 4 buses an hour - to just 4 per day:
"These services before allowed people to go shopping and go to the hospital.
"People living on the estate used to have friends coming to visit them, which can't happen now.
"So, it's been quite catastrophic.
"One lady in her 90's has told us that since the buses have stopped coming as regularly, she's tried to take her own life because of how isolated she's felt."
In response, a Stagecoach spokesperson said:
“From 29 October 2023, following consultation with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, buses 22, 43 and 44 were replaced by new routes 22a and 22c. The new routes provide new direct links to Barnsley Hospital and provide an improved frequency of up to four buses an hour between Barnsley, Dodworth and Gilroyd. The new links have been welcomed by bus users in Dodworth and Gilroyd.
"We had to make some changes to these services as ridership on the 43/44 had reduced by 21% over the last four years while the cost to run these services increased by over 20% during the same period. This meant the service was no longer covering its basic running costs such as drivers' wages and fuel.
"We have met and had discussions explaining the reasons for these changes with representatives of the residents of Broadway, through the Barnsley Transport Users Group. We have also undertaken a statutory consultation with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority regarding changes to bus services in the region, including specifically the changes to routes 22, 43 and 44.
"At Easter, Stagecoach Yorkshire Directors met with the residents of Broadway, alongside Oliver Coppard to discuss the challenges of running a sustainable bus service to Broadway given the decline in journeys and increasing costs experienced in recent years.
"Stagecoach discussed at length how services in Broadway are heavily reliant on concessionary reimbursement which in recent times hasn’t covered the basic costs of fuel and drivers. Therefore, it is not possible to run buses through the estate without alternative funding to cover costs.
"For most customers, alternative bus stops with regular buses are within walking distance at each end of Broadway. South Pennine Community Transport also operate a new route 33 bus service to Broadway on weekdays running direct to Barnsley town centre. For people who cannot use alternative bus stops, Door 2 Door Community Transport is available allowing people to travel direct from their home to destinations throughout the local area including hospitals, doctors and supermarkets.
The decision to change these bus routes was not made lightly. With fewer people travelling since the pandemic and increasing costs to run buses, bus operators and local authorities across the country have been forced to make similar changes to ensure the future of the bus network.”