Concerns over bus shelter (From Gazette Series)

Concerns over bus shelter

A NEW bus shelter has caused such a stir in a South Gloucestershire village that it has sparked an inquiry by the district authority.

Residents in Cromhall are concerned that the building of the shelter, which was given the green light by South Gloucestershire Council, will become a traffic hazard.

It is feared that the shelter, which stands on the Townwell junction on the B4058, will obstruct the view of motorists and put lives in danger.

One resident has written to South Gloucestershire Council, sparking an investigation into the original plans for the shelter, which have been defended by parish clerk Sue Wray.

"We have been planning this bus shelter for two years," she told the Gazette on Monday. "We held a site meeting with a number of councillors, representatives from South Gloucestershire Council and it was open to any other interested parties.

"The first we heard that people had a problem with it was in a letter from South Gloucestershire Council on Monday requesting the original site plan."

Planning permission for the bus shelter was given some time ago but it is only now the shelter is being built that residents are expressing concerns.

Mrs Wray said the position for the shelter had been chosen because there was already one on the other side of the road. "This new one was supposed to compliment it," she said

Parish council chairman Cllr John Sidgwick said: "People have called for another bus shelter in the village for a long time.

"If people wanted to complain then they should have attended council meetings. There was a consultation period about it."

Mrs Wray did admit that residents' concerns might not be misplaced. She said: "The shelter has reduced visibility slightly but it is not in a really bad place."

South Gloucestershire Council said it would not stop the building work altogether because approval has already been given for the project but it was looking into the measurements and location of the shelter.