MP Nick Fletcher claims Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotheram are losing out on millions to fund Sheffield’s trams being taken back under public control.
South Yorkshire’s Supertram has come back under public control for around a month after 27 years of being run privately by transport company Stagecoach.
Sheffield Labour MP Oliver Coppard said this was “the first step in our journey back to a public transport system that puts people first, connecting our communities”.
However, the changes have not been received positively by all
Sheffield Supertrams began in 1994 and were publicly ran and funded until the council sold the rights to run the network to Stagecoach 3 years later in 1997.
The £240 million pound scheme was originally seen as unsuccessful for the first few years.
With commuters choosing cheaper and more frequent services like buses, the network was running at a loss and lead to a lack of investment and poorer tram experiences until it was finally made private.
The announcement has caused much controversy between Sheffield and other South Yorkshire towns such as Rotheram, Barnsley and Doncaster over the use of funds which don’t benefit all communities in South Yorkshire.
Nick Fletcher, MP for Don Valley claims Doncaster has lost out on £23 million to fund the transition of the tram service to private to public.
He says ‘Why are the people of Doncaster paying for this vanity project? Its a white elephant and its wrong.’
On a BBC morning interview , He added Doncaster is losing out on £23 million, Similar amounts for Barnsley and Rotheram. Its wrong. Its unfair and it has to stop.
Oliver Coppard has not disclosed whether the service has made a profit or a loss so far, which Mr.Fletcher says ‘makes me suspect it was a loss’
The Sheffield Labour MP has been asked to disclose such figures, but has yet to do so.
The controversy continues from the lack of funding and investment from Sheffield towards the reopening of Doncaster airport.
Thus sparked concerns over the relationship between the South Yorkshire towns and the unfair distribution of funds felt by other towns near the city.
Mr Fletcher has been consistently critical of South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and the plans since they were first announced, and has since made a survey to gather information on the issue.
A link to the survey is below:
