Minutes:
With reference to Minute No. 14(3) of the minutes of the meeting of the RMBC Transport Liaison Group held on 2nd December, 2015, Councillor Sansome attended the meeting alongside eleven residents of the ‘Wentworth Parks’ area of Swinton, concerning the petition requesting the provision of a bus service to Piccadilly Road and onto Wentworth Road at Swinton. It was noted that the residents had already submitted a petition to the Council about this matter and had attended a public meeting in Kilnhurst. One resident had attended the Borough Council meeting on 2nd March, 2016 (Minute No. 143(2) refers) and had asked a question about this matter. Several residents spoke in support of this request, which was for the provision of one bus per hour, between the hours of 09.30 a.m. and 03.30 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays. The opinion of residents was that such a bus service would have a positive impact upon the quality of life of people living in that area of Swinton, especially elderly people and those who did not have access to a car. Reference was made to current bus services in the wider area of Swinton and Kilnhurst and also to those services which were provided in the past, but have now ceased to operate.
Reference was also made to the answer to the resident’s question made at the Council meeting, which had stated that : where bus companies do not operate a commercial service, a supported bus network could be introduced by the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, where defined criteria have been met. The current criteria aimed to provide access to a 30 minutes’ daytime service within either 400 metres (or a five minutes’ walk) or within 600 metres (or a 7 or 8 minutes’ walk) to a frequent bus service of 10 to 15 minutes’ frequency. This criteria extended to 800 metres on Sundays and during evenings. Much of the Wentworth Parks estate, Swinton, was within 600 metres of an available bus route and, therefore, was unlikely to benefit from a publically funded service.
It was noted that the matter would be referred to the commercial department at the Stagecoach bus company, for assessment of the viability of providing the requested service. The First bus company did not currently operate buses in the Swinton area.
The residents offered the opinion that the bus companies ought to consider placing the genuine needs of a community as a priority over the need to make a business profit. Residents also stated their willingness to discuss and work with the local Councillors, bus companies and with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive in the continuing endeavour to secure this specific bus service.
Members noted that the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive had been asked to respond to the petition and there was the likelihood of the residents’ request being considered by the Rotherham Bus Partnership.
Agreed:- That the residents’ request for the additional bus service in the Piccadilly Road and Wentworth Road area of Swinton be kept under review by the RMBC Transport Liaison Group and that residents must be informed of any progress.