Bus cuts will lead to more isolation in our community

On September 22, Stagecoach announced there would be changes in October to bus services throughout South Yorkshire.

Amongst the changes, I noticed that the Barnsley to Leeds X10 service was being withdrawn from October 2.

The public has been given very little notice of the bus service changes for Barnsley and South Yorkshire.

However, I am aware bus service providers should provide at least 28 days’ notice to the Traffic Commissioner appointed by the Department for Transport of withdrawal of service and also notify local authorities of any proposed changes.

So has bus service reductions been the plan all along by Stagecoach even though South Yorkshire Regional Mayoral Authority and the Government have provided increased funding to Stagecoach to keep bus services running.

Have Stagecoach run this service down to the point of withdrawal?

At its inception in October 2017, an hourly express service seven days a week, with late night services Friday and Saturday was promoted.

In May 2018 the service was reported by Stagecoach to have 99 per cent of users recommending the service and that 80 per cent of those surveyed had switched from an alternative mode of transport including cars and trains.

This service has since been reduced to the twice a day journey from Barnsley early morning and return journey early evening Monday to Friday (services were reduced 30/10/21).

Initially the public were given excuses of Covid, strikes impacts, and reduced number of drivers and the X10 service would be reviewed in January 2022.

In my opinion Stagecoach have not considered the impact on Barnsley residents and businesses if this service is withdrawn.

I am aware we have an alternative in using the rail system but this is more expensive and a longer journey.

People are having to make the choice to which transport they are best using to get to work, education. This means more cost and time spent to the user if having to use more than one bus, train etc.

In a cost-of-living crisis this is more stress on the public particularly when time also can be a constraint.

Alternatively, people go back to using their own vehicles which was evident following the reduced bus service.

For those who live in the villages this route passed through it was a good service that linked areas that no other bus services cover i.e.,

New Lodge through to Kexborough then to Leeds. This is a service that many of our residents used to visit relatives, shopped on our high streets also connecting transport services to Barnsley Hospital, direct route to Leeds Hospital’s, GP surgeries, businesses etc.

On a recent Better Buses South Yorkshire campaign stall residents of Barnsley reported to me they missed the X10 service.

I have spoken to residents living on this bus route many who are elderly with mobility difficulties, they now feel isolated and have no easy means of transport to some of the areas this route covered.

The X10 service at its fullest was also used for leisure In Leeds and vice versa buses running back into Barnsley.

With our new town centre and the great shopping and catering venues that are in our villages an opportunity has been missed to optimise the number of people who can visit our great borough and town centre with the withdrawal of this service.

I would ask our council and Regional Mayor to challenge the withdrawal of bus services and take steps to ensure that Barnsley does have the best bus services the public deserve to promote the active travel agenda and keep our economy thriving.