On Monday Andy Burnham launched the Bee Network - taking back control of Greater Manchester’s buses. In SY, we’re going through the same process at record speed. Since day one, I’ve made it a priority. Because we simply must fix our broken bus network & GM has shown the way.

@andyburnham All sounds promising for Sheffield and other large centres. But what will it mean for outlying communities such as Maltby, Mexborough, Rossington, Wombwell, Armthorpe, Thorne, Penistone to name but a few?

@andyburnham Under franchising we wouldn’t have to rely on bus companies cherry picking the profitable routes in cities while leaving our towns and villages without services. There are no silver bullets but franchising = much greater control.

@andyburnham @Alex_Stafford I know. And yet he doesn’t acknowledge/know that his government are the ones who determine the process we have to follow - it took Manchester 7 years because of the 2017 Bus Services Act. If he wants to join me in lobbying to change the rules I would welcome the support.

@andyburnham We also need more direct buses to cities from outlying SY villages & towns In the 80s we had buses that went on the M1 & were in Sheffield within 30mins, not an unreliable hrs trip round the houses. Buses won't replace cars until the routes are quick,reliable & cheap.

@andyburnham Who is paying What new taxes have you got planned?

@SouthYorksMayor @andyburnham Hurry up and do it.. 4th City in the UK and a bus service 2 hourly at night come the dark nights

@SouthYorksMayor @andyburnham Hi Mark. The process is set down in law by the government, so I can only go as quickly as they allow. We’re doing it as fast as we can, but the honest truth is that without additional funding nothing is going to get better quickly.

@andyburnham Sir, need your attention at Sheffield s74 bus line, very poor service, please have a look at the numbers of cancellation and nobody is doing anything about it.

@andyburnham How do you propose to pay for this as you can’t afford to even go into the consultation process after failing to gain government funds AGAIN