Red light for bus scheme

What is indefensible, however, is the bureaucratic ineptitude which has led to this important facility being sited at such an inappropriate location that the facility has been unused. Park-and-ride is supposed to be make it easier for people to travel into Barnsley and discourage car use, but it only works on those roads where buses enjoy priority status.

Given that this is not the case in Barnsley, and given the extent to which town hall officials ignored warnings from residents and experts about the site's unsuitability, there needs to be an inquiry into why an opportunity to improve public transport was squandered at a time when council budgets are being squeezed. The scrutiny process was clearly fallible.

Once again, it appears that the officials concerned arrogantly believed that they had the answers – and that the local knowledge of residents counted for nothing. They were wrong. Invariably, taxpayers are better informed than paid officials, a lesson that local government leaders need to grasp. For, unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Similar difficulties have afflicted a park-and-ride scheme in Doncaster. And, in Leeds, officials are digging up the main A65 Kirkstall Road to create a new bus lane – even though this will do nothing to reduce the delays that currently afflict bus passengers coming into the city from the suburbs.

It is a dilemma that is confronting councils across the county. For, while improved bus (and rail) services are essential to reducing congestion levels on Yorkshire's gridlocked roads, car users will only start to embrace public transport when such services are proven to be quick, cheap and reliable.

Regrettably, Barnsley Council failed to appreciate these principles when it chose to locate its park-and-ride site at the one location where bus delays would be maximised. When will its public servants learn?