Bus Shelter Neglect Needs Urgent Action

5.27.50pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 12th May 2004

Michael Headley surveys the damage to one of Bedfords bus shelters

Borough council Liberal Democrats are asking that the council clean up its act when it comes to the maintenance of its network of bus shelters.

Many of the bus shelters are not fit to provide any protection from the elements and are blighted by graffiti and vandalism. The maintenance of the network of shelters is the responsibility of international street furniture giant's adshel who manage 40,000 bus shelters across the country. But it is the borough councils responsibility to run the contract, make sure the shelters are kept upto scratch and decide on new shelters. Lib Dems fear that the Mayor and Cabinet are not giving the issue enough attention and are calling for a concerted effort to clean up their act.

Speaking on the issue Michael Headley, Lib Dem group leader said:

"Bus shelters in the town are a local disgrace. You expect that when you're waiting for a bus you would be granted protection from the elements but over and over again that fails to be the case. We even have to put up with the sight of dilapidated shelters where buses no longer call. We must have some of the most derelict bus shelters in the country. Other towns are benefiting from high tech shelters with CCTV cameras, music, even an art gallery. All we are asking for is the Mayor to sort out the ones we have at the moment, for the benefit of anyone wanting to catch a bus, as well as local residents who have to look at these eyesores. I don't think that is asking too much.

I want to see the cabinet getting their act together so that the bus shelters that are damaged are either quickly repaired or replaced with fully functioning clean shelters."

Lib Dems will question the Mayor over the lack of action on the bus shelters at tonights borough Executive meeting.

ENDS