Skip to main content
Site logo

Main navigation

  • Home
  • About Alexander
  • News
  • Plan for Rother Valley
  • Campaigns
  • In Parliament
  • Contact
Site logo

ALEXANDER STAFFORD FIGHTS UNFAIR TRAVEL PRICE RISES

  • Tweet
Sunday, 30 May, 2021
Alexander Stafford MP opposes fair rises - graphic
  • South Yorkshire TravelMaster announce plans to increase some bus, rail and tram fairs from next month
  • Local MP for Rother Valley, Alexander Stafford, opposes the move, urges TravelMaster to use £17 million received from Government

 

Alexander Stafford, local MP for Rother Valley, has spoken out against plans to increase travel fares on some bus, train and tram routes in Rother Valley from next month.

The move will see fares increase by up to 5% next month, with many of those who regularly use public transport affected.

A fervent campaigner for better local transport provision in Rother Valley since his election, Alexander has written to the Managing Director of TravelMaster, Matt Smallwood, opposing these proposed fare increases and urging him to instead focus on improving links within the constituency.

Commenting, Alexander said:

Now is categorically not the time to increase fares on public transport. I recognise that, like all other industries, public transport providers have been hit by the pandemic, but let us also remember that they have received significant funding from both regional and national government in order that they can keep providing this essential services.

To hit residents with a fare increase, when many of them have been furloughed or lost their jobs, is unacceptable, and I hope TravelMaster will reconsider this decision for the good of passengers across the area.

 

The contents of Mr Stafford's letter are as follows:

Dear Matt,

I am writing on behalf of my constituents in Rother Valley in response to the announcement that TravelMaster are applying a 5% increase to ticket fares in South Yorkshire.

I ask that you inform the Board of Directors of the anger in the local community to this announcement and ask that it be urgently reconsidered.

I appreciate that the pandemic has been incredibly difficult for transport companies. However, it must be acknowledged that the companies that make up TravelMaster have all received significant national and regional funding during the pandemic to support their services. As companies that are providing an essential public service, there needs to be a corporate duty to support the community during the recovery from the pandemic.

Many of my constituents in the towns and villages across Rother Valley are reliant on public transport for work and education, including many key workers. They have been, in the most part, understanding, patient and supportive of the changes to the services and the many inconveniences that have been caused during the last year. However, that patience is wearing thin. People want to see not only a full restoration of services, but demand improved services, cheaper tickets, better reliability and increased frequency.

When I speak with my constituents who have either stopped using public transport due to cost and reliability, or to people who want to make the switch away from private cars, the common theme is that services must improve. Reliability, punctuality, frequency and affordability, must be addressed. Transport companies cannot justify an increase in fares, until these are answered and a major improvement plan put in place.

Increasing prices is short-sighted and is not the way to attract more people on to the public transport network.

Let me be clear, this is not just the responsibility of TravelMaster and the associated transport companies, this must be led by the Mayor of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority. Some of the most deprived areas, the most reliant on public transport for accessing employment and education opportunities, are being let down by the regional policy. Maltby, Dinnington, Thurcroft, Treeton and Swallownest, deserve better services. Until these are delivered, I ask that the Board of Directors reverse the announced fare increase.

  • Local News

You may also be interested in

Fix transport in Rother Valley

Fixing Public Transport in Rother Valley

Following his historic election victory in Rother Valley at the 2019 General Election, Alexander Stafford MP reports that one of the first pieces of casework he ever received related to the state of public transport services in the area.

Alexander Stafford MP in Maltby

My Plan for Maltby

Alexander Stafford MP in Dinnington

My Plan for Dinnington

Dinnington is a small town located roughly in the centre of the Rother Valley constituency and has a population of just over 9,000 people. It is believed to have been founded in Neolithic times with a name meaning "Town of Dunn's People".

Alexander Stafford in our rural villages

My Plan for our rural villages

Alexander Stafford MP in Aston

My Plan for Aston

Alexander Stafford MP Plan for Thurcroft

My Plan for Thurcroft

Alexander Stafford MP in North Anston South Anston

My Plan for North & South Anston

North Anston & South Anston are two villages in the southeast of the Rother Valley constituency, with a combined population of roughly 9,000 people. The area’s history dates back over a thousand years, and its name means “single/solitary stone” in Old English.

Alexander Stafford MP for Wales

My Plan for Wales

Wales is a small village in the southwest of the Rother Valley constituency with a population of over 1,000.

Alexander Stafford MP in Kiveton

My Plan for Kiveton Park

Kiveton Park is a village in the southwest of the Rother Valley constituency with a population of just over 7,000 people. It was founded by the Anglo-Saxons before the Norman conquest, and its name comes from an Old English word for “the settlement in the hollow”.

Alexander Stafford MP in Whiston

My Plan for Whiston

Alexander Stafford MP in Harthill & Woodall

My Plan for Harthill & Woodall

Harthill is a small village and Woodall a hamlet in the south of the Rother Valley constituency, with a combined population of roughly 2,000 people.

Alexander Stafford MP in Todwick

My Plan for Todwick

Alexander Stafford MP in Swallownest

My Plan for Swallownest

Alexander Stafford MP CSE leaflet 1

HOMES IN ROTHER VALLEY TO RECEIVE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION (CSE) INFORMATION LEAFLET

Monday, 28 March, 2022

Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford, has joined forces with CSE survivor and prominent campaigner, Sammy Woodhouse, to produce an information leaflet on CSE

Show only

  • Articles
  • Holyrood News
  • Local News
  • Opinions
  • Speeches
  • Speeches in Parliament
  • Westminster News

Alexander Stafford MP for Rother Valley

Footer

  • About RSS
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • About Alexander Stafford
  • In Parliament
ConservativesPromoted by Zachary Collingham on behalf of Rotherham & District Conservative Federation, both at 9A High St, Penistone, Sheffield, S36 6BR
Copyright 2022 Alexander Stafford MP for Rother Valley. All rights reserved.
Powered by Bluetree