Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting of the Transport Liaison Group, held on 19th March, 2014.

Agreed:- That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

1)    First Group

2)    Stagecoach East Midlands

3)    Stagecoach Yorkshire

4)    South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (pages 5 to 11)

5)    Rotherham Community Transport (page 12)

6)    Robin Hood Airport - Consultative Committee minutes of 17 April 2014 (pages 13 to 16)

7)    Northern Rail

(1) First Group - The Rotherham FirstDay ticket now offers customers better value for money with unlimited travel on First buses within the Rotherham district boundary and also to Meadowhall Centre. The price of the Rotherham FirstDay ticket reduced to £3.90 with effect from 22nd June, 2014.

(2) Stagecoach East Midlands – no report.

(3) Stagecoach Yorkshire – The Dearne Valley day ticket has also reduced in price and now costs £3.90.

(4) South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE)

The submitted report included details of the forthcoming launch of the Rotherham Bus Partnership on Monday 21st July, 2014. A list of bus timetable changes, to be implemented with effect from Saturday 19th July, 2014, was also included. Members discussed a range of issues relating to specific bus services throughout the Borough area, including:-

: the system of credit vouchers being issued to passengers who do not have the exact amount of a bus fare and who may require a large amount of change;

: the application process for a disabled person’s travel pass – Members asked to be informed of this process;

: the involvement, or otherwise, of specific bus companies in the Rotherham Voluntary Bus Partnership and whether there would be any effect upon particular bus services (eg: the No. 4 service, Rotherham to ravenfield Common);

: the validity of bus Travelmaster tickets across all bus operators’ services;

: a specific case involving an elderly person, who also has a disability, in the North of the Borough; Members requested a briefing note about the eligibility rules for travel passes for elderly people and also for people with a disability;

: Members from the local area are pleased that there is now better alignment of services 22 and 22X (Rotherham-Manvers, including journeys to Meadowhall), instead of having services competing with each other at the same times;

: Members from the local area were grateful that services 108 and 109 (Rotherham-Parkgate-Rawmarsh) had now returned to their original routes;

: the possibility of there being a feasibility study of bus services for the Wentworth parks housing estate (Swinton).

(5) Rotherham Community Transport - Members received a copy of the press release describing the Leader of the Council’s recent participation in a volunteer day with Rotherham Community Transport. Councillor Stone had volunteered as a Passenger Assistant, supporting elderly people on shopping trips, using the Community Transport Shopper Bus Service.

(6) Robin Hood Airport – consideration was given to the minutes of the most recent meeting of the Robin Hood Airport Consultative, held on 17th April, 2014. The contents of these minutes were noted.

(7) Northern Rail – Members again expressed disappointment that representatives of Northern Rail were unable to attend this Liaison Group’s meetings. Included within the report submitted by the SYPTE were details of (i) the development of a Long Term Rail Strategy for the North of England and (ii) the Network Rail Delivery Plan Period 5 (covering the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Update on Local Highways Programme 2014/2015

Members received details from the Transportation and Highways Projects Manager concerning the Local Highways Programme 2014/2015, highlighting the following schemes:-

(i) A57 (Worksop Road near Todwick) – this major highway improvement scheme, involving road widening and the construction of a roundabout, is now substantially complete; a recent road traffic accident, resulting in a fatality, had occurred in the section of highway to the east of the improvement works, on the single carriageway section;

(ii) Pool Green (Masbrough) roundabout – the contract for the £5 millions highway improvement scheme has been awarded to Ringway; work will begin on 1st September, 2014 and are scheduled to last until May, 2015; a communications plan will be utilised to keep local residents, businesses and local Councillors informed of progress; although there will inevitably be significant traffic disruption during the period of works on site, the scheme will be beneficial for the local economy in the longer term; it was acknowledged that congestion is also likely to occur on match days affecting the nearby New York football stadium and the football club will be kept informed of progress and asked to assist in communicating messages to supporters;

(iii) Ferham and Masbrough area, traffic calming scheme, including 20 mph zones – the public consultation process will begin soon;

(iv) B6089 highway through Nether Haugh – the Borough Council will undertake treatment of this highway, to install high friction road surfacing on the bends in the road and also to enhance the gateways which indicate the change of the speed limit, using additional lining features; these alterations will occur during July, 2014; there continues to be dialogue with the South Yorkshire Police and further discussions with residents and Ward Councillors about road safety in Nether Haugh;

(v) details of Schemes financed from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund:-

- a Toucan crossing, for pedestrians and cyclists, will be installed across the A630 Centenary Way, Rotherham, which will replace the subway linking Bailey House and the Transport Interchange;

- High Street, Rotherham – new paving and a cycle lane being constructed;

- West Bawtry Road, Rotherham (traffic delays from the Canklow to Rotherway roundabouts) – widening of the road entering the Rotherway roundabout, in order to reduce traffic congestion;

- A630 Centenary Way, Rotherham (near to the new Tesco store) – installation of the ‘SCOOT’ scheme, using ‘intelligent’ traffic signals for traffic management in order to ease congestion.

Agreed:- That Members of the Rotherham Transport Liaison Group be provided with a copy of the Local Highways Programme 2014/2015 document.

Wednesday 24^th September 2014 at 2.00 pm

Wednesday 3^rd December 2014 at 2.00 pm

Wednesday 18^th March 2015 at 2.00 pm

All meetings at Rotherham Town Hall

Agreed:- (1) That the next meeting of the RMBC Transport Liaison Group be held at the Town Hall, Rotherham on Wednesday, 24^th September, 2014, commencing at 2.00 p.m.

(2) That future meetings of the Transport Liaison Group take place on:-

• Wednesday 3^rd December, 2014
• Wednesday 18^th March, 2015
• Wednesday 24^th June, 2015