Cllr Ruth Milsom and local Labour activist Minesh Parekh wrote to First South Yorkshire and Stagecoach Yorkshire, asking them to explain what contingency plans they have in place to deal with adverse weather conditions.

“It’s not unusual to have snow in Sheffield, and yet every time there’s a snowfall bus services tend to grind to a halt. We would like to hear from both private companies what steps they are taking to ensure Crookes and Crosspool will have bus services at the next snowfall.

We are also disappointed that Phil Medlicott has refused to work with Unite and give drivers a real-terms pay-rise, and through his refusal to work with drivers caused a twin loss of service by strike action and snow. Stagecoach must meet their drivers’ reasonable requests and deliver a service fit for our region.

What’s clear, however, is that South Yorkshire’s private bus companies are failing to meet the needs of the people that live here. With Stagecoach currently trying to force a real-terms pay-cut onto their drivers, and First planning massive cuts to already depleted services, the only true solution to this crisis is bringing buses under municipal ownership.”