Hospital patients forced to use four buses under new timetable plans

Cllr Richard Price (left) with upset residents at the High Street and Muglet Lane bus stop. From L-R are: Gwen Reveley, Helena Christie, Dianne Caster and Carl Crossland.

Bus timetable changes will see the half-hourly number 10 bus from Maltby to Rotherham via Rotherham Hospital scrapped from February 24 if proposals are passed.

Losing the service would also affect Maltby students who attend Oakwood High School or Thomas Rotherham College, said Cllr Richard Price, who is campaigning against the plans.

The consultation is being run by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) on behalf of the four bus partnerships in the county and closes on December 9.

SYPTE said the proposals included “some major network changes, some improvements in service frequency along key corridors and improved access to employment”.

But Cllr Price, Maltby ward member, said the community was “outraged” at the plans, which would leave the town without a regular, direct service to the hospital or college.

He said: “We do have a lot of people who use that direct link (to the hospital) — the elderly, the staff that work there — and the college, as well, further down the road.”

Cllr Price said the number 10 was proposed to become the X10 and after leaving Maltby via Flanderwell, Sunnyside and Wickersley it would bypass East Bawtry Road and the hospital, instead heading to Rotherham via Stag to fall in line with the X1 route.

“I really can’t fathom as to why they are doing it,” Cllr Price said.

“When I’ve asked questions, they just tell me my thoughts will be fed into the consultation.

“I still remain hopeful that they will listen. I’d urge people to go online and take part in the consultation.”

SYPTE’s proposals state the new timetable would provide “additional journeys to Rotherham Hospital at peak times on the 110” — but the 110 will only “provide early morning journeys to Rotherham Hospital for workers”.

Cllr Price has also blasted the consultation, which opened on October 29, claiming the information was difficult to find on the SYPTE website.

He has left paper copies in Maltby Library for residents.

An SYPTE spokeswoman said the X10 was proposed to run every 15 minutes, instead of the current 30 minutes, increasing the number of buses for residents on Rotherham Road in Maltby, Bramley, Sunnyside and Flanderwell.

“This means passengers travelling to Rotherham General Hospital and Thomas Rotherham College from Maltby would change to services 19, 19a or 113 at Wickersley,” she added.

“Nine buses per hour would run to the hospital from the town centre, via services 19, 19a, 26, 27, 28, 29, 113.

“New service 113 would continue to link Bramley, Sunnyside and Flanderwell with the hospital every hour, and provide a new link from Ravenfield Common.

“Direct journeys would also still be provided on early morning service 110.”

“You can have your say on these proposals and other possible changes at travelsouthyorkshire.com/Feb2019/ until Sunday, December 9.

Paper copies of the consultation form are available on request via Traveline on 01709 515151.