CAMPAIGNERS called for South Yorkshire buses to be brought under full public ownership today after it was announced that the region will move to a franchised model. 

The plans were made following a 12-week public consultation involving 7,800 respondents, and means that South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority will set routes, timetables and fares with bus services brought under one brand.

Campaigner Matthew Topham, from We Own It campaign group, told ITV Yorkshire: “This is a great stop on the journey, but we know we can go further. 

“The gold standard in places like France and Germany is not just franchising, which they’ve always had. 

“They didn’t ever deregulate the services like we did in South Yorkshire, but they’ve gone a step further and they deliver public ownership.

“ So all decisions are accountable to the public, and then every penny goes back into the local services.”