News from Sheffield Labour

Lib Dem Council and First Buses urged to stop playing politics with Sheffield’s buses

Sheffield Labour MPs have today urged both sides in the bus partnership dispute to sit down and come to a sensible compromise before it’s too late.

The quality partnership approach between First Buses and Sheffield City Council, the first such agreement in the country, has been held up as a beacon for other areas to follow. Sheffield MPs Angela Smith, Clive Betts and David Blunkett believe it would be a pity if that agreement was lost because of petty politics.

Commenting on the crises facing Sheffield’s bus service, Hillsborough MP and member of the Commons Transport Committee Angela Smith said:

“Both sides need to think long and hard and sit down and talk to each other.  It’s no good this Lib Dem Council trying to blame everyone else for their intransigence and First buses need to realise that they cannot treat their customers in this cavalier fashion. If the partnership approach cannot be made to work the only way ahead is for the powers in Labour’s 2008 Transport Act to be enabled and regulation of bus services re-introduced as soon as possible. I challenge both sides to stop playing these petty games for the sake of the people of Sheffield.”

Other news from Sheffield Labour

• Station Bridge roundtable with Transport Ministers announced - 8 February 2012
• Paul Blomfield MP slams Tory "ambush" of Government Fair Access Director - 8 February 2012
• Angela Smith MP highlights economic problems faced by Barnsley - 7 February 2012