The Informer

The Informer - Special Supplement - March 2011

Todwick Parish Plan Questionnaire: Public Transport

In connection with the forthcoming delivery of the Todwick Parish Plan Questionnaire I would like to encourage you to think about the Local/Public Transport Facilities that operate within the reach of the people of Todwick.

The future of transport services will in the next few weeks come under scrutiny as financial cut backs are made, in order to work within Government guidelines on reducing expenditure, in an attempt towards trying to reduce the National Deficit. We need to think about our Carbon Footprint Recognition, and the current price of fuel (petrol, diesel, gas, electricity etc.) and what it is likely to rise to in the medium and long-term future.

Please take time out to think about the following and consider whether or not you could make any changes to your transport needs/arrangements that may save you money and also be environmentally friendly, and at the same time maintain/secure a better transport facility for the village of Todwick.

Questions to ponder on:

1. How frequently do I/We (family members) use the bus, train or community transport facilities daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, six monthly, annually or indeed not at all?
2. Do I/We or could I/We use local transport for trips to work, shopping, school, the Doctors, the Library, Supermarket, Leisure Activities, Visiting Friends, or access to other forms of transport elsewhere such as coach, plane, train or tram.
3. Consider whether or not local transport has improved or deteriorated in the last 5 years.
4. Have you considered researching the availability of Local Transport:
   1. Local Bus Companies
   2. South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority
   3. Network Rail (Rail travel via Kiveton Park/Kiveton Bridge Rail Stations.)
5. Using a timetable obtained from a bus/rail company, Transport Interchange or Local Village Shop.
6. Liaise with the Local Community Transport Officer (c/o Rotherham Community Transport office) to organise a subsidised local trip to the shops or facility in the local area using one of their minibuses that are hired out using Volunteer Drivers.
7. Use the Internet.
8. Look at information available at bus stops and transport interchanges.
9. Assuming you are a local transport supporter do you:
   1. When waiting at a bus stop make use of the mobile phone facility information to enable you to 'track' your bus?
   2. If you encounter any problems travelling do you contact the appropriate transport provider to complain?
10. Bearing in mind the financial constraints which are likely to increase in April/May this year, what essential service(s) would you like to see maintained or made available?
11. If the future of transport depended on the viability of services would you support services more than you do at the moment, in order to try and influence their retention?
12. Reflecting on the possible use of Local Transport are you aware that there are certain cheaper travel options are available under certain free and discounted travel schemes by making use of Travelmaster, Sheffield City Wide daily ticket now available at an introductory price of £4.90, giving unlimited bus and tram travel around Sheffield for a one off fee, Senior Citizen Railcard and the National Bus Pass.

Finally if the future of transport depended on the viability of services would you support services more than you do in order to influence their retention? PLEASE THINK about the aforementioned and be prepared to complete the TODWICK PARISH PLAN QUESTIONNAIRE as soon as it drops through your letterbox, making the best use of the opportunity afforded you.

A prompt return would be very much appreciated. Thanking you in anticipation.

Councillor John Palmer, Tel: 01909 771257, Mobile: 07754 584114, Email: palmerbil@btinternet.com