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Issue 1230
Call 0114 283 1100
11th August 2022
www.looklocal.org.uk
Local News
Stagecoach step in to save bus route
By George Torr, Local Democracy Reporter
HCT Group announced their Powells and CT Plus bus companies will close and services will stop running from Monday, August 8.
The larger buses are not able to cross the bridge at Fox Valley, so will use Manchester Road, bus bosses said.
Customers that have valid Powell’s bus tickets can continue to use them on the replacement Stagecoach services until August 14. Customers travelling along other routes in South Yorkshire previously covered by Powell’s Bus services can also travel on Stagecoach services along their route until August 14. Stagecoach Yorkshire bosses said a number alternative routes may help customers continueto travel.
Stagecoach Yorkshire will operate service 6 from Sheffield to Millhouses, 61/62 between Hillsborough and Low Bradfield and 201 from Chapeltown to Stocksbridge. The service 6 will run to the same timetable operated by Powells, as will the 61/62 service on Mondays to Saturdays. The 61/ 62 will no longer run on Sundays. Service 201 will have a new timetable and slightly different route in Stocksbridge.
Customers previously using service 49 can use Stagecoach 219. Customers previously travelling on Powell’s X20 can travel on Stagecoach services 22x and 226 between Barnsley, Wombwell and Manvers, 221 between Doncaster and Mexborough and 218, 218a and 220 between Mexborough and Manvers. Matthew Kitchin, managing director of Stagecoach Yorkshire, said: “I’m proud of the way our staff have responded to this situation and enabled us to act very quickly to maintain these links for passengers.
Sumo add their weight to St Luke’s volunteering days
“We are glad that we are able to minimise the disruption to customers and offer alternative routes, either from our current extensive network in South Yorkshire, or the routes that we are taking over from Monday.” Originally founded as Hackney Community Transport in 1982, HCT Group was established in 2008. It operates 19 services across South Yorkshire from its Powells depot in Hellaby, employing around 50 staff.
COUNCIL STATEMENT Terry Fox leader of Sheffield City Council said "Sadly we have very little direct influence over bus providers and for many years we have demanded more powers from government, and for more investment into public transport. But instead, we are seeing a managed decline of bus services throughout the North. “Your council is trying to do everything it can - we recently launched the city centre shuttle bus, Sheffield Connect, and have spent millions on improving roads and the connectivity of the network. But due to national lack of investment this isn’t counting for a lot in retaining decent and wideranging bus services in the city."
SHEFFIELD based video game developer Sumo Group swapped their studio for a spot of retail therapy as they joined St Luke’s Hospice as volunteers. A team from the award-winning company, one of the UK’s largest providers of end-to-end creative development services to the video games and entertainment industries, spent the day giving their time to the St Luke’s shops. Sumo Group’s Head of M&A Pat Luker said: “We had a fantastic time supporting St Luke’s. “Our team of 25 volunteers spent the day in two St Luke’s shops, working behind the scenes, sorting through donations and preparing items for sale. "It was great to get an insight into the key role the shops play in raising funds for the hospice.
"I would highly recommend a corporate volunteering day to any employer looking to have a team building day out of the office, whilst also giving something back to the local community. "Arranging the day was incredibly easy and it was really well run by the staff and volunteers at each site. "Our team really enjoyed it and it was great that we could make a small contribution to the amazing work that St Luke’s does. “We will definitely be back for another corporate volunteering day!” To find out more about corporate volunteering opportunities with St Luke’s, visit stlukeshospice.org.uk/ volunteer/corporate-volunteering
