Passengers have been told that the new timetable for the Crosspool service will be more resilient, with longer journey times to reflect delays and greater recovery time at Lodge Moor before departure on the next journey.
At Thursday’s Crosspool Forum AGM/Open Meeting, local councillors Geoff Smith and Rob Frost pledged to meet with SYPTE and First if the expected improvements to the Crosspool service do not happen.
As well the new 51 timetable, other changes being made to the bus network in an attempt to simplify and improve the overall service. These include co-ordinated timetables that change less often, a new range of tickets, more services on some routes and more buses with low-floor access.
“The new timetable will be much more resilient, incorporating longer journey times to reflect delays and greater recovery time at Lodge Moor before departure on the next journey. More buses and drivers will be required to operate it but deployed to maintain the present level of service where we’re falling short.”
Another expected output from the Sheffield Bus Partnership consultation was that the 51 route would change, with the bus would going via West Street instead of Broad Lane and the drop-in medical centre on Rockingham Street. It doesn’t appear that this change has been implemented in the new timetable.
A new citywide ticket which can be used on all bus and tram services in Sheffield will also be introduced on 28 October.
Changes to ticketing arrangements are also on the table including a single ticket to let you to travel anywhere across the city, even if you have to change buses. The cost of a day ticket would also come down by 70p to £4.30.
The 51 bus could go via West Street instead of Broad Lane to improve its reliability as part of proposed changes to Sheffield’s bus network.
It would mean that the drop-in medical centre on Rockingham Street would no longer be included on the route.
Changes to ticketing arrangements are also on the table including a single ticket to let you to travel anywhere across the city, even if you have to change buses. The cost of a day ticket would also come down by 70p to £4.30.
Snow arrived in Crosspool on Saturday afternoon, causing problems on local roads and delays to public transport services.
Saturday lunchtime: snow starts to fall in Crosspool precinct
Major roads were gritted in preparation for the snowfall, which was over 10cm deep on some areas by the morning.
By Sunday afternoon the 51 bus service was back to normal and most of the main roads through Crosspool were passable. However, surface snow and ice on side roads were continuing to cause trouble for cars, with evidence of at least one minor accident in the neighbourhood.
The thaw appears to have already started and no further snow is forecast over the next few days. However, as temperatures remain low, any lingering snow and surface water may turn to ice so drivers and pedestrians are advised to take care – particularly on Crosspool’s hilly roads.
Do also check up on your neighbours who may feel isolated and vulnerable during the bad weather.
Sunday lunchtime: main roads through Crosspool such as Watt Lane were clear
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.
The bus service running through Crosspool taking people out to Derbyshire is to change from Sunday, 30 October.
Currently, passengers travelling to places including Castleton, Eyam and Bakewell catch services 51A, 241 and 242. However from Sunday the new numbers for the buses will be 273, 274 and 275.
The buses will now be operated by Hulleys of Baslow during the week and TM Travel on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Download the new timetable below for full details of the new services.
Crosspool News - crosspool.info 