He appreciates that it does not take us any further but thought our readers should know what was said. He has also contacted Stagecoach about running a service on the 51 route as well but has not received a reply yet.
South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive has a role in keeping bus companies to their advertised timetables. However, they need specific examples to take any action. If you have a specific example you wish to bring to their attention then you can do so by using pam.horner@sypte.co.uk or 0114 221 1452.
Response from First to Councillor Smith’s email:
Dear Councillor Smith,
Thank you for your email in relation to the problems passengers are receiving in Crosspool on Service 51.
Firstly, I am sorry to hear that passengers are unhappy with the service being received. There have been a number of timetable changes in recent times all with the objective of improving punctuality.
I have received feedback from our Scheduling Department as follows;
We have been analysing data for each journey over a period of a typical month and adjusting the timetable to account for known and predictable delays. For example, the slow queue up to Broomhill at the afternoon peak period, delays at school start and finish times etc. This has resulted at certain times in scheduled and published breaks in the timetable of slightly longer than the general frequency of 10 minutes. It’s the unexpected that can cause unscheduled breaks and there can be a variety of factors outside of our control.
There should be the facility for passengers to text “Your Next Bus” at the bus stop, if they have a mobile phone and this should provide the customer with an estimated arrival time of the next bus.
We can’t really draw comparisons between different services. It was always the case that different areas merit different frequencies and solutions. The population density along the 52 route is much stronger and so are passenger numbers. And another bus company has chosen to operate alongside First on the 52 route.
I hope the information provided is of assistance to you, however if you have any further questions then please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Amanda Maybury
Lead Customer Service Advisor
Subject: Update – 51 Bus Service
The petrol station on Manchester Road in Crosspool has applied for planning permission to install a jet wash with shelter on the side of the existing building.
Planning application 11/03549/FUL describes how the new facility would be built to the right hand side of the Mace store, where you can see parked cars in the photo below. It would be enclosed on three sides with perspex sheets supported by steel columns, and also include a roof.
The deadline for consultation and comments is 6 December 2011.
Bollards have been installed on Stephen Hill Road verges
Crosspool residents recently requested measures to prevent vehicles from diving on the grass verge and pavement next to the Manchester Road doctors surgery.
On 23 November, the council installed a number of strategically placed bollards across the pavement and grass verge on Stephen Hill Road.
It is hoped that these measures will eliminate the potential danger of injury to pedestrians, and in so doing make this stretch of pavement a safer place for small children and the older members of the community.
Manchester Road: disruption for motorists on Sunday 6 and 13 November
Resurfacing work on Manchester Road in Crosspool is to cause disruption for motorists on Sunday 6 and 13 November.
On these two days, Manchester Road will operate under two-way temporary traffic signals. Sandygate Road will be closed at the Manchester Road junction. Local access will be maintained to the shopping centre and diverted traffic will use Selbourne Road. Lydgate Lane will also be closed at the Manchester Road junction with traffic diverted via Crookes Road and Fulwood Road.
These disruptions will only be on Sunday 6 and 13 November. Local businesses and traffic travelling through the area should see little disruption in the area Monday to Saturday.
Stephen Hill/Benty Lane junction still on the agenda – hope to have a report in the next Open Meeting.
Council grant for 20 Union flags & poles – to decorate the precinct in time for the 2012 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Olympic games.
Treasurer’s Report (Chris Batchelor)
Our bank account remains healthy– but this is because the grant for the flags has yet to be spent, and next years’ summer flowers will need to be paid for.
Crosspool Festival
This will start on 7th July with Crosspool Open Gardens, and end with the Summer Fayre on Sat 14th, & Open Air service on Sun 15th. The Festival Committee would like some more helpers – please contact Rev Frances Eccleston or Ian.
Police Report (Pc Louise Atha & Pc Dave Hall)
Allotment break-ins – especially to the society’s hut & container, from which several hundreds of pounds were taken, & a lot of mess caused. Residents were urged to post the serial numbers of eg lawnmowers and similar equipment on the website www.immobilize.com so stolen items can be traced back to them. Operation Herbaceous is in place to try to stop this.
Scrap metal & lead nicking; Operation Anchor has been targeting & stopping suspicious vehicles in Dore & Totley (19) and Bramall Lane & Ecclesall Rd (34) – & prosecuting those with unroadworthy vans or no waste carrying licences.
Car crime; there have been some break-ins to vehicles on Crookes/Crookesmoor. Residents were urged not to leave satnav cradles on display.
Operation Dark Nights is about to begin for Halloween & Bonfire Night, & shops being checked to ensure no underage sale of alcohol or fireworks is taking place.
Questions were taken on verge bollard use, bad parking on Manchester rd & the proposed closure of Manchester road round Stephen Hill, Delph Hse Rd & Selborne Rd for resurfacing.
Councillors’ Question time (Sylvia Anginotti, Brian Holmes & Geoff Smith)
Councillors answered questions such as a query on attic extension building and trespass by a neighbour, bus timetabling & the new Optio scheme (voluntary partnership agreement between Stagecoach & First – nos. 120 & 52 buses), and why the 51 never seems to come on time!
Residents were asked to keep details of timetabling failures & send them on to Ian Hague, or direct by phone to Pam Horner (SYPTE External Relationships Manager – 0114 2211452).
There were concerns over poor bus lane signage (Ripley St), silly bus lane sections (Mushroom Lane head), and why the 120 stop in town is Flat St & not the Interchange. The Vernon Tce bus shelter issue was raised again – & Cllr Anginotti suggested an online petition direct to Council about this.
Residents asked whether the post box could be moved from outside Craft Angels to a less congested spot in the shopping precinct, but this has been requested before & Royal Mail say they can not do so.
There was also a request to have the word ‘SLOW’ painted at the bottom of Sandygate Rd hill, where drivers come round the bend to the zebra crossing.
AOB
A special limited edition of Crosspool cards is available from Craft Angels – £2.50 per pack.
There will be a Christmas Disco at St Columba’s on 4th Dec; tickets from the Crosspool Pet Shop. Father Christmas will be there!
The Sheffield to Castleton & Bakewell bus (operated by Derbyshire County Council) that runs along Manchester rd is to change to number 273/4/5.
Ian Hague is hoping to get funding for an over-60s trip …. music will be involved!
Green Garden Waste bags; remember the last collection will be the week starting 31st Oct. A report on all aspects of waste collection throughout the city is expected, so until this is published there will be no green waste collections.
The Rivelin Valley Conservation Group has been given a Lifetime Achievement Award (collected by Graham Appleby & Keith Kendall).
The next Open Meeting will be Thursday, 26 January 2012. 7pm, St Columba’s.
Crosspool Forum Open Meeting/AGM
Thursday 27 October 2011 7pm
Chair’s welcome
Introduction of top table
Apologies for absence
Eighth AGM
Minutes of last meeting to be approved
Matters arising
Chairman’s report
Treasurer’s report
Committee members report
Related activities
Election of Committee members
No resignations or nominations received; 15 members max
Open Meeting
Minutes of last meeting to be approved
Matters arising
Police Liaison
An update on policing in the area
Questions & Answers with Local Councillors
Cllr. Sylvia Anginotti, Cllr. Brian Holmes, Cllr. Geoff Smith
Council officials
Tammy Barrass, Community Assembly Manager (responsibility for assembly activities)
Any other business
Next Open Meeting at St. Columba’s, Thursday 26th January 2012
Guest speaker Greg Challis, Planning and Highways
Benty lane /Stephen Hill junction with Manchester Road
Don’t forget that Geoff’s Crosspool surgery takes place between 12.30pm and 2pm on the third Wednesday of the month (except December) in St Columba’s Church on Manchester Road.
He is also happy to see constituents at other times – contact him on 0114 273 5588, 07581 214783 and geoff.smith2@sheffield.gov.uk. You can also follow him on Twitter at @geoffforcrookes.
Our local councillor Geoff Smith has published details of his monthly surgeries.
His Crosspool surgery takes place between 12.30pm and 2pm on the third Wednesday of the month (except December) in St Columba Church on Manchester Road.
The Labour councillor also runs a Crookes surgery between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, on the fourth Wednesday of the month (except December) in the Gilbert Room, St Thomas Church (opposite Crookes post office), Crookes.
He is also happy to see constituents at other times – contact him on 0114 273 5588, 07581 214783 and geoff.smith2@sheffield.gov.uk. You can also follow him on Twitter at @geoffforcrookes.
Crosspool News - crosspool.info 