No funding available to reinstate lost bus shelter
Bosses say third party cash needed for work
BUS users won’t be getting a shelter back on a busy Hinckley artery road, despite a petition calling for its return.
Although the idea of a shelter has been supported by highways chiefs at Leicestershire County Council, the authority says it simply hasn’t got the money to install a new one.
However, if external funding of around £15,000, the council says it would happily do the works.
The shelter outside number 230 Coventry Road was removed in 2012.
Residents of 230 had requested vehicular access to their home and, given the limited amount of parking available for householders on the street, Leicestershire County Council had agreed.
It meant shortening the raised kerbs, allowing easy access to public buses from eight metres to five metres, allowing the residents to get onto a drive but also allowing the bus stop itself to remain.
However this impacted the four bay bus shelter, owned by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.
The county asked the borough to either remove the shelter to ensure free access or replace it with a smaller one.
Recognising the stand was in a poor condition, the borough took it away entirely and just a pole stop has marked the busstop and pull-in ever since.
Last year a petition of 40 names was handed in asking for the shelter’s return.
Following assessment the county decided it wouldn’t be safe or suitable to put a stand in the original location but a spot on a grass verge outside 234 Coventry Road might be satisfactory.
Works required would include extending the layby, installation of raised access kerbs, relocating the lamp column and consulting residents, at a cost of around £10,000.
A two bay bus shelter would cost an extra £5,000.
A report to the Hinckley and Bosworth area highways forum said: “Due to the current eco- nomic climate the county council have a limited budget for bus stop infrastructure, which is prioritised on maintenance of existing assets.
“Therefore while the county council would support requests for new bus shelters, it is simply unable to fund requests of this nature.
“The county council would welcome provision of such infrastructure, however look for opportunities to fund improvements where it can be funded by other sources, such as district/ parish councils or the private sector.
“The full cost for con- sultation and new shelter would require third party funding, which is currently not available.”
Highways members were asked to note the report and that the sounty council would happily arrange the necessary work should funding become available.