Parkgate park-and-ride on Mayor Dan Jarvis's £220 million transport wish list

The Sheffield City Region mayoral combined authority met on Monday to finalise the proposals being put to the Government.

Among the plans is a Tram Train station at Magna, as we revealed in last week’s Advertiser, and “active travel improvements” between Rotherham, Barnsley and the Dearne Valley.

Regional mayor Dan Jarvis (pictured) said: “It is critical that we improve the transport system to create better access to major employment sites, reduce congestion, better integrate different modes of transport and make our transport network fit for the 21st century.

“That’s why it’s so important that we get this Transforming Cities Fund bid right, and why we’ve been working closely with partners to ensure our bid has real potential to drive transformational change for our communities.

“Improving our transport links is crucial for growing our economy as we develop a global innovation corridor, linking residents and businesses to our internationally-significant assets in areas such as advanced manufacturing, health and wellbeing, and engineering.

“I now look forward to working with the Department for Transport as we develop our detailed plans.”

The bid says Maltby’s connection with Rotherham would be improved with bus lanes and altered junctions.

And there would be a park and ride at Parkgate — something which has been called for since Tram Trains began calling there last year. 

Parkgate Shopping added new parking rules restricting drivers to five hours after the station opened.

Cllr Denise Lelliott, Rotherham Borough Council’s cabinet member for jobs and the local economy, said: “I welcome the mayor’s improvement plan for travel across South Yorkshire.

“In Rotherham, this will include schemes to reduce traffic congestion, improving bus lanes and maximising the benefits of the tram train as well as helping people to move about more easily.”

A draft business case will be sent this month and a final version in November for the funding, which would be from a £1.22 billion Department for Transport pot.