A RUBERY councillor has called on Bromsgrove District Council to replace the village’s bus shelters which he claims are old, worn out and not fit for purpose.
Coun Peter McDonald said there were three main areas where new structures are needed.
He said the one on Whetty Lane was falling apart, the one outside the Rose and Crown pub was leaning after being damaged and the one on the Callowbridge had smashed panels.
“Instead of the shelters being replaced with new ones they are repaired time and time again and basically left to rot away.
“It is absolutely shocking bus users should be treated as second class citizens, those running the council should be ashamed of themselves, leaving bus users to the mercy of the elements.
“Nowhere else in the county would people be treated with such contempt.”
He said to make things worse, as well as bus shelters in the rest of the county being in better shape, many of them had electronic boards providing ‘real time’ passenger information – detailing when the next buses were coming.
“Simple things like a bus shelter and ‘real time technology’ are just taken for granted anywhere else, but here in Rubery it’s a pipe dream.”
Coun Roger Smith, whose portfolio on Bromsgrove District Council includes environmental services, said: “I would be happy to meet with councillor McDonald to look at problem bus shelters and to help find a solution.”
Coun Marcus Hart, county council cabinet member for highways said: “Real Time Information is currently only available at County Hall’s two bus stops which is a pilot site while the system is being fully tested.
“Worcester City will shortly be the first area of the county to receive Real Time Information (RTI) with funding from the DFT specifically for this purpose.
“All areas of the county will receive RTI as more infrastructure is rolled out and bus operators are able to provide us with live bus data.
“In addition, RTI will also be made available through other digital channels such as web and mobile.
“The infrastructure for this service will be installed where we feel it will have the greatest impact on passengers.”
* WHAT do you think? Are there other areas across Bromsgrove District where bus shelters need replacing? What are the shelters like that you use? Send us your views to [email protected]
