The public need to participate in decision making about our buses.

Tell the Truth Sheffield have supported this open letter. It’s vital that ordinary people have a say on issues such as bus routes and fares.

Open Letter: public participation in decision making on public transport in South Yorkshire

We welcome the decision taken in March 2025 to franchise our bus services. This will mean SYMCA will take control of bus routes, timetables and fares and own the bus depots and fleets.  It will end the power of the bus companies to make decisions based only on the need to increase profits, not on the needs of communities.

However, we want to see meaningful public consultation in how the franchised system is developed, organised and run.  We believe that those impacted by decisions about services, including passengers and bus workers, should be involved in making those decisions.

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.

We call on the SYMCA to set up a decision-making South Yorkshire Transport Board which would include representatives of bus user groups, workers in the industry, community organisations, disability groups and other civil society bodies to work alongside the Mayor and elected council representatives.

Our call is not a new idea. Public services, including in London, often include wider voices in decision-making.* We will not accept a response that tells us it cannot be done.

*Transport for London Board: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/how-we-work/corporate-governance/board-members#on-this-page-14

Paris Water Board / A Citizens Observatory: https://www.landcommission.gov.scot/our-work/governance-ownership/land-governance/eau-de-paris-paris-water-observatory

This call is supported by the following groups and organisations:

Better Buses for South Yorkshire

Barnsley Trades Council

Sheffield Trades Council

Rotherham Trades Council

Doncaster Trades Council

Sprotborough & Cusworth Parish Council

Barnsley Methodist Circuit

Sheffield Methodist Circuit

Extinction Rebellion Sheffield                                                                                                       

South Yorkshire Climate Alliance

Sheffield Green Party

Doncaster Green Party

Greenpeace Sheffield

Unite Community South Yorkshire

Sheffield People’s Assembly

South Yorkshire Fossil Free

Sheffield for Democracy

A Fleet for Change (Sheffield)

SADACCA  (Sheffield & District African Caribbean Community Association)

Burngreave Clean Air Campaign

Gleadless Valley Climate Action Network

Tell the Truth Sheffield

We Own It (national campaign for public ownership)

To add your organisation’s name to the letter please send details to betterbusesforsy@gmail.com

To sign as an individual please click on: https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/give-us-a-public-voice-as-we-move-to-public-control-of-our-bus-services-1 

Better Buses South Yorkshire are holding a public event to launch the open letter and will be inviting the media.  This will take place on Friday September 12^th at 12 noon at the Cathedral tram stop in Sheffield and will probably last till about 1pm. Do join us.