Give us a public voice as we move to public control of our bus services

We welcome the decision taken in March 2025 to franchise our bus services. This will mean SYMCA will take control of bus routes, timetables and fares and own the bus depots and fleets.

It will end the power of the bus companies to make decisions based only on the need to increase profits, not on the needs of communities.

We want to see meaningful public consultation in how the franchised system is developed, organised and run.

We believe that those impacted by decisions about services, including passengers and bus workers, should be involved in making those decisions.

We call on the SYMCA to set up a decision-making South Yorkshire Transport Board which would include representatives of bus user groups, workers in the industry, community organisations, disability groups and other civil society bodies to work alongside the Mayor and elected council representatives.