Sheffield protest against bus cuts, photo by A Tice

Sheffield protest against bus cuts, photo by A Tice   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Sheffield anger at bus service cuts

Alistair Tice

Sheffield Bus Partnership is trying to push through drastic cuts to bus services in the city. Through re-numbering, removing, replacing, reducing and re-routing, 10-15% of all services will be cut. 50 buses a day will be taken off the network, costing approximately 150 bus worker jobs.

These proposals to be implemented at the end of October, and the lack of consultation, have sparked huge anger across Sheffield with around 4,500 people voicing opposition in one form or another.

The Socialist Party and TUSC, along with the South Yorkshire Freedom Riders and Sheffield Trades Council, have been at the forefront of campaigns against these cuts. Last Thursday, 30 August, 30 of us marched from the bus station to the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), forcing our way into its office and handing in TUSC petitions against cuts to the SL2 and the 19, 20 and 20A services.

We will also be demanding that the Labour city council, who ultimately have the final say, should halt any changes until a proper public consultation has been conducted. The ‘official’ consultation has been a sham: only 25 days, hardly any publicity and very confusing – you would need to be a geographer to work out what’s going on!

Campaigning against cuts to bus services in Sheffield, photo by A Tice

Campaigning against cuts to bus services in Sheffield, photo by A Tice   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

These cuts have been caused by two things. The Tory government funding cuts passed on by the Labour council in cuts to the SYPTE, and the drive of the private bus operators First and Stagecoach to increase profits by cutting “not sustainable” services.

That’s why the Socialist Party will continue to demand that the Labour council defy the Tory cuts, and calls on South Yorkshire Labour councils to use existing legislation to introduce bus regulation through a Bus Quality Contract.

In the long run though, bus services should be taken out of the hands of the Big 5 private operators and returned to public ownership. “We want Our Buses Back!”