Metro-mayor ‘could push through vital transport plans’

A DIRECTLY elected mayor could help drive forward ambitious transport plans and deliver a £500m boost to the South Yorkshire economy, it is claimed.

Civic and business leaders from the Sheffield City Region (SCR), covering Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham, met yesterday for a presentation on the area’s transport strategy for the next 22 years, which is currently under public consultation.

Former Sheffield MP Richard Caborn, councillor Ben Curran and Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis have all announced they intend to be the Labour candidate for metro-mayor, with an election due to be held in May. Mick Bower is the Yorkshire Party candidate and David Allen, of the English Democrats, will also stand.

Speaking at a conference where the SCR’s Transport Strategy 2018-2040 was presented, David Budd, the region’s assistant director for transport, said he hoped the mayor would be the voice representing the area’s transport ambitions.

“What we have seen in Greater Manchester is that if you look at their mayor, Andy Burnham, there is a very strong emphasis on transport. It would not be unreasonable to suggest that a mayor for the Sheffield City Region would want to prioritise transport investment,” he said.

“We would see the mayor as being a strong person to front and take ownership of the strategy and work with the likes of Andy Burnham to then speak to the Government about the region’s ambitions.”

Under the proposed Sheffield City Region deal, a directly elected South Yorkshire mayor would assume control of transport budgets and strategic planning and have access to £900m over 30 years.

But the devolution agreement reached in 2015 with ex-Chancellor George Osborne was plunged into uncertainty after Doncaster and Barnsley withdrew in favour of a Yorkshire-wide deal, meaning the elected mayor would have virtually none of the promised powers or money.

The strategic transport plan doesn’t as yet include details of specific road, rail or public transport schemes but aims to grow the city region’s economy by £500m by increasing the number of people able to get to key employment sites and education by public transport in 30 minutes.