Shake-up of transport service in city after failings identified

Council chiefs commissioned an “extensive independent review” of the transport and highways department which found “significant shortfalls” in areas, including customer focus and leadership.

As a result, at a council cabinet committee meeting today, Lib Dem members are set to announce wide-ranging changes to the transport section.

Coun Ian Auckland, Sheffield Council’s cabinet member for business, transport and skills, said: “Changes to how we deliver transport and highways will give the people of Sheffield greater confidence in what we do.

“We want to work with people, not against them, and to do this we understand that we need to engage with local people and business to offer innovative, high quality, well-thought out schemes and projects supported by a greater body of the public – in short a transport system which works for Sheffield people not just experts in the town hall.

“We made a firm commitment to sort out transport and highways and make it work for local people. Already, interaction with community assemblies has given more power to the man on the street.”

One of the main criticisms came after £4m “improvements” to the A61 at Woodseats, which were meant to relieve congestion and make bus journeys shorter but actually made things worse.

The council’s previous Labour administration oversaw the introduction of bus lanes and a bus gate on Chesterfield Road four years ago, in a scheme they claimed would improve journey times on the busy route.

Residents of Woodseats, where the road narrows, had complained about the jams and it was hoped the roadworks would improve congestion.

However, earlier this year, independent experts were brought in by Lib Dem council bosses to examine the scheme – and their report found the so-called improvements had failed.

The report said the current system on the A61 was “too complex”, that a “reduction from two lanes to one has not worked” and that it had become “a key reputational risk for the council”.

As a result, Sheffield Council decided to remove the bus gate and reintroduce a second lane, but these changes could be backtracked upon if Labour retakes control of the town hall in May.

A Sheffield Council spokesman said: “The service as a whole is undergoing a real shift in its culture.

“Officers held up their hands and admitted that elements of the Woodseats and Meadowhead scheme were unpopular with motorists and were not supported by local people. Proposed changes to this scheme have already been agreed and will be implemented later this year.”

The spokesman added that the department has “worked hard to give community assemblies what they want” and said: “Assemblies now set their own local highway priorities and approve many aspects of schemes.

“Working at a more local level means that the council is able to truly deliver for local people and businesses, allowing Sheffielders to set the objectives and priorities in their area.

“Community assemblies are now at the heart of what transport and highways does and provides ownership of projects from start to finish. Some examples of this are the new crossings at Wharncliffe Side and Ringinglow Road.”

Coun Auckland said: “The key to our success will be dialogue – listening to what people want and working with them to deliver it.

“With many road schemes it is difficult to meet the needs of all users. That is why it is vital to listen to what people want and work with them.

“We’re confident that we can go further to create a service that truly delivers for local people and the wider economy.”

Sheffield Council’s Labour group declined to comment on the plans.