Plans to speed up bus routes on key routes into the city have been developed following the intervention of Labour councillors, who have listened and proposed new plans that take onboard feedback from local residents and business owners.

The latest scheme, which has been passed by the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee proposes a number of improvements to traffic signal operation, junction upgrades, and bus priority measures which will enable public transport to travel through these corridors with less disruption. Camera technology will be used to tackle illegal parking in the existing bus lanes which contribute to current bus delays.

Cllr Ben Miskell, Deputy Leader of Sheffield Labour and Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee says that he has travelled ‘door-to-door’ listening to businesses on Abbeydale Road, London Road and Ecclesall Road over the past few weeks, listening to their concerns. The new plans which were passed by the committee today come forward after a new fresh top team, headed by Council Leader Tom Hunt took over key roles running the city.

Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said:

“The new top Labour team in the city are determined to listen to residents and businesses and do politics differently. We will be ambitious about improving public transport in our city and giving people the choices that they need to move around our city.

“Today we’ve passed plans that will help improve bus journeys on key routes into the city, starting to provide people with a viable choice about using public transport. We hope that they will work to speed up journeys, but if they don’t we’re determined to get around the table with businesses and residents to find a way forward. 

Olivia Blake, Labour Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam, said: 

“I’ve had so many conversations with concerned residents and businesses on Ecclesall Road, who want to see improvements to support public transport, but have wanted their needs to be considered too.

“We need bus improvements to improve their reliability and reduce congestion, but any changes have to be done with communities, not to them. Consultation, engagement and co-creation should be at the heart of the Council’s approach.

“I’m really pleased that Labour Councillors have gone out and spoken to businesses, and pushed to revise proposals to make them not only more reflective of community need, but also more workable.”

Councillor Nighat Basharat, Labour Councillor for Nether Edge & Sharrow said

“It’s great that my Labour colleagues Cllr Miskell and Council Leader Cllr Tom Hunt have joined me by going out and speaking with businesses on Abbeydale Road and London Road to listen and understand their thoughts about the scheme and what they would like to see.”

“The Leader and whole Labour team are committed to speaking to people on the ground so that local people can help create the plans using their experience of living and working here”

“We need to make sure we take people with us when any new scheme comes through and fully involve local people & businesses that could be impacted”

Councillor Ibby Ullah, Labour Councillor for Nether Edge & Sharrow said

“I was pleased that we’ve found a way forward that listens to business and residents and that there’s a plan in place to speed up buses in the area.

“Following all the work of Labour councillors, local businesses and people who took time to speak to us;  the plans are clear that as things stand, red routes and changes to bus lane hours will not be introduced as part of this scheme. We will be pushing to make sure that these measures work to speed up bus routes, but if they don’t, I know that we will get around the table again with residents and businesses to find a solution”.

“Myself and Cllr Basharat will always listen to local people and ensure their voices are heard loud and clear”