Story: Saleema Imam
From Sunday 30th January 2011 bus numbers 45, 46, 46A and 72 will no longer operate and the 73 will cut out Firshill Crescent.
New services 35, 36 and 37 will partially replace these services. There is concern that these changes will not answer the needs expressed by Shirecliffe residents in the autumn.
Partially replacing the 45, the 35 will travel from Sheffield centre to Meadowhall via Carlisle Street then to Hillsborough via Herries Road and back to the city centre via Shalesmoor. The 37 will travel the same route in the opposite direction. Both will be every half hour starting 6.10am and ending at 8.15pm, with extra buses from Wincobank/Fife Street at 5.08am and 6.08am and evening extras finishing at Hillsborough at 8.53pm, 9.49pm and 11.00pm The number 36 will replace numbers 46 and 46A between Sheffield centre, Wincobank, Firth Park and Firvale.
The 73 formerly turned off Barnsley Road to go up Firshill Crescent to Shirecliffe Road, but will now be following part of the old 72 route along Minna Road to Shirecliffe Road, then to Southey Green, Parson Cross and Ecclesfield. Buses run from Ecclesfield every ten minutes with the first bus arriving at St Catherine’s Church, Burngreave Road at 6.16am. The last arrives at 7.22pm, finishing at the interchange ten minutes later.
Previous bus changes left much of the area near Penrith Road with a very limited service but the new routes do not show any improvement. Though the 35 and 37 do go to the school, parents and youngsters attending Parkwood Academy will now have the choice of a long route from Spital Hill via Meadowhall or catching two buses – 73 and 37.
For information about bus times contact Traveline 01709 51 51 51