The Green Group have claimed credit for the Sheffield Connect service around Sheffield city centre, with four new green buses that are free to use, emission-free and electric.

This comes after the group made the proposals as part of their 2019 budget amendment. However, this was voted down by Labour at the time when they had a majority on the Council.

Green Party councillor for Broomhall and Sharrow Vale Brian Holmshaw, said: “We are really pleased that the Free Bus Service around the City Centre, now rebranded Sheffield Connect has been launched.”

“Now that Labour no longer has a majority on the Council it is much easier to get good ideas, like this one.”

The council is now under “no overall control” with Labour and the Greens in a cooperative administration to run the city.

Previously, the Sheffield Connect had been a nondescript white minibus that was barely recognisable as free.

However now, there are four bright green buses that run regularly and clearly have “Sheffield Connect” on them.

Green Party councillor for City ward Ruth Mersereau, said: “This will help make the city more accessible to people who don’t own a car or who would prefer not to use one for city centre journeys. It is good for the environment, for local businesses and for people’s pockets.”

The service will also make the city centre more accessible for older people and people with mobility issues.

Sue Peterson, 62, who lives in Ecclesfield, said: “The new service makes it so much easier to get around, the old service just wasn’t good enough.”

There will be two services available, the Sheffield Connect 1 and the Sheffield Connect 2.

The SC1 services will start from 07:00 on Mondays to Saturdays and operate every 7-8 minutes.

Sheffield Connect 1 stops at: Sheffield Interchange B1 – Fitzalan Sq – High Street – City Hall/Leopold – Pinfold Street – West Street – Carver Street – Rockingham St – Moor Market – Moorhead – Furnival Street and Paternoster Row.

The SC2 services will start from 07:00 on Mondays to Saturdays and operate every 20 minutes.

Sheffield Connect 2 stops at: Sheffield Interchange – Paternoster Row – Furnival Street – Moorhead – Moor Market – Moorhead / Eyre St – Charles St – Arundel Gate – Angel St – Millsands 1 – Millsands 2 – Haymarket and Flat Street.