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File a Trademark for $399 + $250 Government Filing Fee
Trademark Attorney Working With Clients in Sheffield, South Yorkshire
If you're an entrepreneur, you know that protecting your intellectual property should be high on your list when it comes to safeguarding your company. However, as a successful business owner, you also know the steps and costs of filing a trademark in the U.S. can be expensive and arduous.
This conundrum can be even more overwhelming for new business owners who want to do everything possible to minimize the price of securing trademarks. They try to handle complicated tasks like trademark registration on their own, which can be a big mistake - especially when juggling the day-to-day tasks of running a business. You may be thinking, "But what about those set-it-and-forget-it services you can find online? All you have to do is plug in your info, and you're done." Using pre-made templates for trademark filing can be tempting, but doing so can leave you with inadequate protection and hurt you in the long run.
So, what is the easiest, most cost-effective route to consider that also minimizes legal risk? The truth is, before you spend money on an online filing service, it's best to consult with a trademark attorney working with clients in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
At Sausser Summers, PC, our experienced trademark attorneys can help you understand the trademark process step by step. We can even help with U.S. trademark filing, U.S. trademark responses, and U.S. trademark renewals at a price you can actually afford. That way, you can make an informed decision regarding your business without having to break the bank.
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Sausser Summers, PC: Simplifying the U.S. Trademark Process
Hiring an attorney can be a daunting task, but at Sausser Summers, PC, our goal is to make the process as simple and seamless as possible for you. That's why we offer a straightforward checkout service. First, you choose your flat fee trademark service and fill out a short questionnaire. Then, we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the details of our service. From there, one of our experienced trademark attorneys will get to work on your behalf.
Using a trademark attorney for filing in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, can significantly increase your chances of a successful registration. The U.S. government recommends hiring a trademark attorney to help with your application, and our team of trademark lawyers is dedicated to meeting your needs. In fact, we help ensure your application is filed correctly the first time so you can get on with your life and avoid legal risks.
At Sausser Summers, PC, we work closely with our clients to understand their needs and provide them with sound professional advice. We never offer incomplete services, such as simply filing for registration, because that would leave you open to legal risks. You can rely on us to handle your intellectual property matters, and our flat fee services can help protect your business in a simple, straightforward, and affordable way. It's really that simple.
In terms of filing a U.S. trademark, we provide an easy three-step process to protect your intellectual property:
1. You provide your trademark info to our team via an online form.
2. Our team performs a comprehensive trademark search. This search ensures that no other marks will prevent you from registering your trademark in the U.S. Once performed, we'll send you a legal opinion letter that details our findings.
3. Sausser Summers, PC, files your U.S. trademark application. We are then listed as your Attorney of Record on file. From there, we'll provide ongoing updates regarding the status of your trademark as it works through the registration process.
The bottom line? At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.
The bottom line?
At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.
Do I Really Need a Trademark Attorney for Protecting My Business in Sheffield, South Yorkshire?
It's not necessary to be a lawyer in order to apply for a trademark. Anyone can submit a trademark application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However, registering a trademark involves more than just filling out a form. It's essential to conduct thorough research, accurately identify and clearly explain your trademark to ensure it receives adequate protection. And even after securing a trademark, you've got to monitor it consistently to make sure it's free from infringement.
The big takeaway here is that it's always a good idea to work with a trademark attorney to protect the intellectual property that you've worked so hard to establish. According to the Wall Street Journal, applicants are approximately 50% more likely to secure their trademark than people who file applications on their own. If your trademark application is rejected by the USPTO, you will need to revise and refile it, incurring additional filing fees. To avoid delays and extra costs, it is best to have a trademark lawyer help you get it right the first time.
Call
us (843) 654-0078Additional Benefits of Using a Trademark Attorney
Great trademark attorneys (like those you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC) will help with every step of filing and enforcing your trademark. Some additional benefits include the following:
Check to see if your proposed trademark is registered by another entity.
Conduct research to see if another business is using the trademark for which you're applying.
Provide advice and guidance on the strength of your trademark.
Draft and submit your trademark applications and application revisions.
Advice and guidance regarding trademark maintenance and protection.
Monitor the market for unauthorized use of your trademark.
Trademark enforcement to protect you against infringement.
Curious whether our trademark attorney services are right for you and your business? Contact Sausser Summer, PC, today. Let's talk about what you need, and how we can help.
What About Online Filing Services?
Online services, can provide you with basic assistance in filing your trademark. However, they will never be a legitimate substitute for an experienced trademark attorney helping clients in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
Although online filing services offer a step-by-step process, they take a one-size-fits-all approach to preparing legal documents. Even their advanced service only provides basic attorney assistance in completing your paperwork and helping with minor roadblocks. Online filing services' disclaimer highlights the many limitations of its services, including the fact that communications are not protected by attorney-client privilege. In addition, online filing services cannot provide advice, explanations, opinions, recommendations, or any kind of legal guidance on possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms or strategies.
In other words, online filing services can offer you the necessary forms and point you in the right direction, but they cannot customize their services to your specific needs or help you with serious complications that may arise.
For the most comprehensive trademark service and protection, it's always wise to work with highly rated trademark lawyers, like you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC.
Understanding Trademarks Over Time
Trademarks in the U.S. can last indefinitely, but did you know that clients in Sheffield, South Yorkshire can file a trademark online, only to lose protection in some circumstances? Trademarks differ from patents and copyrights in that they do not have an expiration date. However, to prevent the cancellation of a trademark, you must maintain it. To ensure that your trademark remains protected, you must actively use it in commerce and renew it with the USPTO every ten years.
The Lanham Act tells us that "use in commerce" is the legitimate use of a trademark in the ordinary course of trade. In other words, you cannot register a trademark solely to reserve the rights to it in the future. In most cases, a trademark must be used continuously in connection with the goods or services it is registered for.
Steps to Renew Your Trademark
Trademarks are registered with the USPTO and generally need to be renewed every ten years. However, there is one crucial exception that you should be aware of. Within the first ten years of owning a trademark, you must file for renewal between the fifth and sixth year from the date of your initial registration.
During this renewal period, you are required to submit a Section 8 declaration, a specimen that shows how the mark is being used, and pay the required fee. You can also apply for Section 15 Incontestability status, which can strengthen your trademark rights. This application, although not mandatory, can make it harder for others to challenge your ownership of the mark.
After the first renewal, which falls between the fifth and sixth year of ownership, the next renewal filing is due between the ninth and tenth year, and then every tenth year thereafter. In the ninth year you will need to file a Section 8 declaration, attesting to your use of the mark or excusable nonuse. You've also got to file a Section 9 renewal application before the end of the tenth year to keep your registration active.
It is worth noting that the USPTO provides a six-month grace period if you fail to renew your mark within the required time frame, but it is best not to rely on it. If you don't file within the grace period time limits, the USPTO will cancel and expire your mark.
By hiring trademark attorneys helping clients in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, you can avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that can arise and cause you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it.
Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Abandonment
In the event that you stop using your trademark and have no plans to resume using it in commerce, it may be considered abandoned by the USPTO. This could result in the loss of your protective rights to the mark. Typically, a trademark is assumed to be abandoned if it has not been used for three years. However, you may be able to refute this presumption by providing evidence that you intend to use the mark again in the future.
Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Inappropriate Licensing
In addition to trademark abandonment, you should also be wary of improper licensing. It's important to remember that once you allow someone else to use your trademark, you must keep an eye on how they use it. You should monitor the products or services that feature your trademark to ensure that they meet consumers' expectations in terms of quality. Failure to do so can lead to a "naked" trademark license and the loss of your protective trademark rights.
How to Avoid Having to Refile Your Trademark
If you're wondering how you can avoid refiling your trademark, the answer is simple: file it correctly the first time around. Filing a trademark isn't inherently difficult, but when doing so, it's very important that certain aspects are filled out accurately in your application. If any information is missing or incorrect, the trademark application may be considered "void ab initio" or void from the beginning, requiring you to file again.
To avoid this, make sure that the information you provide in the application is accurate and complete, including the ownership of the trademark. For instance, if a corporation has multiple shareholders, it should not file under the President's personal name. The rightful owner should be the one/entity that ultimately controls the trademark and the associated goods/services.
It is also important to ensure that the goods and/or services description is precise. For example, if you sell electronic products, you should not file for research and development services despite having a research and development department. The goods/services description should reflect the goods/services you offer to customers, not the departments within your business.
Additionally, providing accurate dates of first use when filing for a trademark is crucial. The USPTO requires two dates to be specified - the date of first use anywhere and the date of first use in interstate commerce. Contact our trademark law office today to learn more about having accurate dates on your filing paperwork.
What Makes an Online Trademark Attorney Great?
At Sausser Summers, PC, we often get questions about how to distinguish run-of-the-mill consultants and others from great trademark attorneys. After all - when you're looking for an attorney to file or prosecute your business trademark, you should know their qualifications. Here are three ways you can separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff when it comes to trademark attorneys.
It's crucial to seek legal advice from a licensed trademark lawyer rather than relying on advice from non-professionals like trademark consultants. The USPTO even recommends hiring an attorney to help with the trademark process. Although trademark consultants may provide advice on trademark availability or name marketability, they cannot file the trademark for you or offer legal advice. According to the Rules of Practicing in trademark cases, "Individuals who are not attorneys are not recognized to practice before the Office in trademark matters." This rule applies to individuals who assist trademark applicants.
When searching for a trademark attorney, it's important to find someone with a strong background in trademark law. Look for an attorney who specializes in this area and has significant experience handling trademark-related cases. Avoid lawyers who don't have expertise in this field, as they may not be able to provide the guidance and support you need.
Ensure your attorney provides updates throughout the trademark registration process to avoid missing deadlines, including responding to any Office actions within six months. Failure to do so can result in trademark abandonment. The USPTO will only correspond with the listed attorney of record, so make sure your attorney keeps you informed.
In summary:
- Be sure you're using a licensed trademark attorney helping clients in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
- It's best to work with a trademark lawyer who has years of experience filing trademarks.
- Ensure that your trademark lawyer is willing to provide ongoing notifications relating to your trademark application process.
Trademark Attorneys Working Hard for You
Building your brand and gaining recognition for it is a significant achievement, and it's important to protect it. However, there are certain pitfalls and mistakes that can arise, causing you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it. By working with knowledgeable trademark attorneys, you can avoid these issues and file your trademark successfully.
With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Sausser Summers, PC, offers comprehensive guidance, strategic advice, and reliable representation for a variety of trademark matters. Our attorneys have years of real-world experience and, having registered countless trademarks with the USPTO, provide our clients with individualized representation when they need it most.
If you're looking for skilled, adept, and experienced counsel, look no further than our trademark law firm. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how we can help you safeguard your brand.
Latest News in Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Doncaster Sheffield Airport 'could reopen by 2026'
BBChttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g76dgwxy4o
The first passenger flights could take off from a newly-reopened Doncaster Sheffield Airport by spring 2026 after a new operator was identified.Doncaster Council said negations were ongoing, but it hoped various legal and contractual stages would be completed before the end of the year.The airport has been closed since November 2022 after site owners Peel Group said it was not financially viable.The city's mayor, Ros Jones, said while she could not yet reveal who the operator was the development marked a "major mile...
The first passenger flights could take off from a newly-reopened Doncaster Sheffield Airport by spring 2026 after a new operator was identified.
Doncaster Council said negations were ongoing, but it hoped various legal and contractual stages would be completed before the end of the year.
The airport has been closed since November 2022 after site owners Peel Group said it was not financially viable.
The city's mayor, Ros Jones, said while she could not yet reveal who the operator was the development marked a "major milestone" in efforts to reopen the airport.
Jones said she would name the operator "when I can" but that "at this time we must continue to have discussions with them on a strictly confidential basis".
She added: "I know our residents and businesses are keen for the airport to reopen and would want that to happen yesterday, but please rest assured we are working as hard as possible to get the airport reopened with the aim of being operational by spring 2026."
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has been asked to release £3m to go towards preparing the airport, while the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is reviewing an application for the reinstatement of airspace around the site.
The council stated that thousands of jobs could be created directly by the reopening of the airport and the development of business parks nearby.
Analysis: Spencer Stokes, BBC Yorkshire business and transport correspondent
It’s two years to the day since Doncaster Sheffield Airport closed, and this afternoon's announcement confirms that, barring an unexpected turn of events, passengers should be able to fly from DSA again in 18 months' time.
The unnamed operating company now has the task of reopening the mothballed terminal as well as signing contracts with enough airlines to make the operation a profitable business.
That lack of profitability, and disappointing passenger numbers, were cited by Peel Group as the main reason behind its decision to shut DSA in November 2022.
There was a sense of dismay across South Yorkshire when Peel Group walked away, but Doncaster Council and South Yorkshire’s Mayor - backed by a grassroots campaign - worked out a potential path to reopening.
It appears today that work has paid off and flights will return to South Yorkshire.
'Fully committed'
Doncaster Council has signed a 125-year lease on the site with landowners Peel, but decided to appoint a third party to operate commercial aviation.
The SYMCA said in a statement that negotiations with the successful bidder would focus on "the level of public control and investment" needed for the project.
"Given the significant levels of investment, the Mayor and the rest of the SYMCA board remain determined to ensure an appropriate level of public control over decisions impacting the future of the airport, and to take as much time as necessary to get the deal right," it said.
"As a result, the paper being presented to the board recommends that Doncaster Council is given more time to conclude commercial negotiations.
"The proposed release of £3m funding now would allow for the delivery of time-critical activity, including work on CAA accreditation and standing up the necessary infrastructure.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said he was "fully committed" to reopening the airport and said he would give the council the "financial firepower" it needed to secure the future of the airport while "making sure we do everything we can to protect taxpayers’ money".
Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
South Yorkshire leaders to consider full business case for reopening Doncaster-Sheffield Airport
Stephanie Batemanhttps://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/business/south-yorkshire-leaders-to-consider-full-business-case-for-reopening-doncaster-sheffield-airport-4852692
South Yorkshire Leaders will be considering a report on the Business Case for South Yorkshire Airport City which could see commercial flights departing from the former Doncaster-Sheffield Airport (DSA) in Spring 2026.South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Board, chaired by Mayor Oliver Coppard, ...
South Yorkshire Leaders will be considering a report on the Business Case for South Yorkshire Airport City which could see commercial flights departing from the former Doncaster-Sheffield Airport (DSA) in Spring 2026.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Board, chaired by Mayor Oliver Coppard, will make a decision at its meeting on 12 November 2024 on providing City of Doncaster Council an additional £3m from existing earmarked resource to progress with reinstatement activity and continue commercial negotiations.
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In February 2024, the Board considered the Outline Business Case for South Yorkshire Airport City and agreed that a Full Business Case should be produced. Since then, City of Doncaster Council has signed a 125-year lease agreement with the owners of the DSA site - Peel, and the procurement process for an operator concluded.
The South Yorkshire Airport City concept would see not just the airport reopen but it is also a 10-year plan to drive economic growth in Doncaster and the wider region with the airport used as an anchor for growth at the wider Gateway East site.
It will capitalise on the region being the UK’s first Investment Zone focused on advanced manufacturing engineering and creating a sustainable aviation hub. McLaren, Boeing, Rolls-Royce and Hybrid Air Vehicles have already chosen to locate in the region. The ambition is to create new jobs and opportunities in South Yorkshire so people can stay near and go far.
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Initial assessment of the Full Business Case highlights the significant opportunity around South Yorkshire Airport City which could deliver 5,000 direct jobs, a Gross Value Add (GVA) uplift of £6.6bn, and a benefit cost-ratio of 9:1 – anything greater than 1.0 is expected to deliver a positive net present value to an organisation and its investors.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and City of Doncaster Council are working at pace but there are still a series of milestones to be delivered to ensure the airport is fully operational for passenger flights in 2026.
Commercial negotiations between City of Doncaster Council and the bidder are still ongoing, with a particular focus on the level of public control and investment.
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Subject to agreement over the business case, the MCA Board have previously agreed in principle to provide £138m in support of Doncaster’s Place Investment Plan that could be used to reopen DSA and create a world leading sustainable aviation hub at Gateway East.
Given the significant levels of investment, the Mayor and the rest of the SYMCA Board remain determined to ensure an appropriate level of public control over decisions impacting the future of the airport, and to take as much time as necessary to get the deal right.
As a result, the paper being presented to the Board recommends that City of Doncaster Council is given more time to conclude commercial negotiations. The proposed release of £3m funding now would allow for the delivery of time critical activity including work on CAA accreditation and standing up the necessary infrastructure.
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Due to the nature of the proposed public investment the project City of Doncaster Council and in line with all public subsidy it is thus appropriate to refer the details of public support to the Government’s Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU). The SAU will continue to consider the proposal with an ultimate response expected in January 2025.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “As I have from the beginning of this process, I remain fully committed to reopening the airport.
“That’s why I and the MCA Board have authorised the release of up to £138m in support of that plan, subject to the right deal being struck with the right operator, so we can get South Yorkshire’s airport back.
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“With that level of investment, and with a deal that is this significant to the whole of South Yorkshire, I am also determined to ensure we progress earnestly ensuring we build on the foundations of a leading regional economic asset. .
“We will give City of Doncaster Council the financial firepower they need while continuing to work at pace to secure the future of DSA, at the same time as making sure we do everything we can to protect taxpayers’ money, and giving the new operator every chance to establish a leading regional airport here in Doncaster.”
Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones said: “This is yet another major step forward in re-opening our airport and seeing planes fly from Doncaster once again. I believe that my fellow South Yorkshire leaders will fully support our Full Business Case, as they did earlier this year with our Outline Business Case.
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“Our proposition is not just an airport but will be a hub for sustainable aviation related industry. South Yorkshire Airport City – the programme to reopen the airport - has incredible potential, to bring jobs and prosperity to Doncaster and the wider South Yorkshire region."
Further information on this is available in the SYMCA Board papers - Agenda Item 11.
More than 100 new homes to replace run-down business centre in Sheffield
Greatest Hits Radio (South Yorkshire)https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/south-yorkshire/news/100-new-homes-sheffield/
The Old Coroner’s Court Business Centre would be knocked down to make roomMore than 100 new homes will be built to replace an iconic but “rapidly deteriorating” building in Sheffield city centre.Author: Roland Sebestyen, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 1st Nov 2024Sheffield City Council’s planning department has given the go-ahead for a development which will see 102 new “build-to-rent” flats on the site of the iconic Old Coroner’s Court Business Centre – a two-s...
The Old Coroner’s Court Business Centre would be knocked down to make room
More than 100 new homes will be built to replace an iconic but “rapidly deteriorating” building in Sheffield city centre.
Author: Roland Sebestyen, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 1st Nov 2024
Sheffield City Council’s planning department has given the go-ahead for a development which will see 102 new “build-to-rent” flats on the site of the iconic Old Coroner’s Court Business Centre – a two-storey brick building built in 1913 – on Nursery Street.
A document uploaded onto the planning portal explained that the building “is an increasing blight to the area” and there was an opportunity to redevelop “the site with a new building that will deliver new homes and regeneration benefits”.
The proposal, which was opposed by heritage campaigners and ward councillors, included the creation of 102, one and two-bed studios as well as co-working space, resident terraces, secure cycle spaces, plant rooms, and refuse facilities.
The applicant added that the main building would be 10 storeys high.
The Old Coroner’s Court Business Centre
During the process, City ward councillor Cllr Ruth Mersereau objected to the plans.
In an email, she said: “From the plans, I’d object on the basis that there is insufficient cycle parking (52 spaces) for the number of planned units (102) – this is a missed opportunity – the block is within easy reach of cycle routes to the city centre.
“My understanding is that Sheffield City Council (SCC) advises that there should be a cycle parking space for every resident.
“I’d also encourage the developers to provide visitor cycle parking, and also to make sure that any provision for residents and guests is suitable for non-standard bikes e.g. handcycles, tricycles, etc. The cycle storage also needs to be fully accessible.”
A heritage campaigning group Hallamshire Historic Buildings also disagreed with the development.
In a letter sent to the planning officers, it objected “on the grounds that it entails the loss of a non-designated heritage asset and fails to preserve the settings of listed buildings in the historically important Castlegate area”.
It added “the lack of a ‘no premature demolition’ condition in that permission is regrettable”.
The group said “the loss of the historic building will also have a negative impact on the regeneration of Castlegate, which has received Levelling-Up funding and is focused on historic identity”.
Empty industrial units to be replaced by 50 new houses in Sheffield
Greatest Hits Radio (South Yorkshire)https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/south-yorkshire/news/50-new-homes-south-yorks/
They'll go on the site of the Classic Cutlery Emmanuel WorksAlmost 50 new homes - a mix of apartments and houses - will be built in Sheffield city centre following the demolition of vacant industrial buildings.Author: Roland Sebestyen, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 1st Nov 2024Last updated 1st Nov 2024Almost 50 new homes – a mix of flats and houses – will be built in Sheffield city centre following the demolition of empty industrial buildings.Planning officers at Sheffield City Council hav...
They'll go on the site of the Classic Cutlery Emmanuel Works
Almost 50 new homes - a mix of apartments and houses - will be built in Sheffield city centre following the demolition of vacant industrial buildings.
Author: Roland Sebestyen, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 1st Nov 2024Last updated 1st Nov 2024
Almost 50 new homes – a mix of flats and houses – will be built in Sheffield city centre following the demolition of empty industrial buildings.
Planning officers at Sheffield City Council have decided to give the green light to a developer to create 48 homes on the site of Classic Cutlery Emmanuel Works on Copper Street in the city centre.
As a design and access document noted, the site – located within the Furnace Hill Conservation Area, which was established due to the area’s significance within Sheffield’s metal trades and, in particular, cutlery production – is occupied by several light industrial buildings along Copper Street and Trinity Street.
The plan is to demolish the existing buildings (the three former works and warehouse buildings) and build six blocks with 34 flats and 14 houses with a commercial unit also included.
The developer said: “The massing of the scheme has been designed to complement and accentuate the topography of the area.
“In accordance with the guidelines set out in the Sheffield Urban Design Guide, buildings should aim to complement the unique landscape of Sheffield, and in some places, taller buildings should be positioned at higher points to accentuate the hills.
“The proposed scheme places a four-five storey apartment building at the top of the site, in line with its neighbour.
“The rows of housing step up to this block along the topography of the hill, maintaining and accentuating the gradient of the land.
“The apartment block at the top of the site gently steps up along Furnace Hill to accentuate the crest of the hill alongside the five-storey building opposite. Many larger buildings of between seven and 10 storeys are being built and proposed slightly further up the hill along Scotland Street.
“This proposed massing will therefore integrate the lowrise areas of Copper and Trinity Streets with the denser buildings of Scotland Street.”
The proposal included a few car parking spots and 50 cycle parking spaces, as well.
Sheffield Greens urge residents to push for 'full public ownership' of buses after budget raises fare cap
Harry Harrisonhttps://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics/sheffield-greens-urge-residents-to-push-for-full-public-ownership-of-buses-after-budget-raises-fare-cap-4848121
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565Visit Shots! nowThe Sheffield Greens are urging locals to push for “full public ownership” of South Yorkshire buses after the budget raised the fare cap to £3.The party has welcomed the “long overdue” movement towards public control of the region’s ...
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
The Sheffield Greens are urging locals to push for “full public ownership” of South Yorkshire buses after the budget raised the fare cap to £3.
The party has welcomed the “long overdue” movement towards public control of the region’s buses after the opening of a 12-week consultation on bus franchising by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).
Peter Gilbert, councillor for Ecclesall ward, said it was a positive step but “franchising isn’t the final destination”.
He added: “I would urge the councils, the Mayor and the people of South Yorkshire to push to follow London in investigating using new powers from Central Government to set up an authority-owned operator, to achieve full public ownership of our buses.”
The Sheffield Greens said full ownership of the bus network would ‘cut out the middle-men’ and would equal a return to “running our own services, as we did prior to 1986, when our buses were the envy of Europe”.
The party expressed disappointment in the decision to raise the bus fare cap to £3 from £2, as announced before the budget speech on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
Government ministers stated the move has extended the cap for another year, as it was due to expire at the end of 2024.
Local Greens demanded the government reverse the increase and fund the £2 cap for “the foreseeable future”.
Green Party public transport campaigner Thomas Atkins-Withers, from Jordanthorpe, said: “For a government that says it doesn’t want to increase costs for working people, it's unbelievable that they are raising the bus fare cap to £3.
“As someone who comes from an extremely deprived area, where 46 per cent of households don’t have access to a car, it's clear who this is going to affect the most, and it isn’t the wealthy.
“We are in a situation where a government supposedly for working people would rather increase a basic living cost, rather than tax their wealthy friends. This shortsighted choice is only going to prevent people from using public transport.”
The Prime Minister confirmed the cap would rise in a pre-budget speech in Birmingham on Monday, October 28, and was confirmed before parliament the following day by the Department for Transport (DfT) and Secretary of State Louise Haigh MP.
In a written statement, the DfT said: “This will particularly benefit passengers in rural communities and towns and will save passengers up to 80 per cent on some routes.
“The cap means no single bus fare on routes included in the scheme will exceed £3 and routes where fares are less than £3 will only be allowed to increase by inflation in the normal way so that some fares will remain below £3. The fare cap will help millions access better opportunities and promote greater use by passengers.”
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