The Herald approached EBC for an update after Cllr Stephen Shing asked the question on many bus user’s lips – where is our new shelter?
Cllr Shing said residents were concerned as the bus shelter on the A2270 Eastbourne Road at the Triangle bus stop in Willingdon was removed several months ago, and there is still no replacement.
And it’s a pattern that’s repeated across Eastbourne. Bus users have been forced to wait without protection during the summer’s heatwaves and now in spells of heavy rain.
The rollout of the new shelters has begun, but a delay in their manufacture has resulted in ‘a regrettable gap’, EBC confirmed.
The spokesperson, said: “We are sorry that some new bus shelters are not yet in place and fully appreciate the inconvenience this can cause for passengers.
“Unfortunately, the contractor providing the new shelters reported a delay in their manufacture, resulting in a regrettable gap between the removal of some older shelters and the arrival of their replacements.
“The replacement programme is now progressing, with new shelters being installed across Eastbourne and the wider network covered by the contract. Around half of all replacement shelters are expected to be in place by the end of October, with the overall programme scheduled for completion by mid-February.”
They continued: “The contractor understands that this programme must be treated as a priority, and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure replacement shelters are installed as quickly as possible.”
They added: “The bus shelter on the A2270 Eastbourne Road at the Triangle in Willingdon is included in our replacement programme. As part of ongoing work to review bus shelter responsibilities across the area, we will be discussing this location with neighbouring councils, as it sits outside the Eastbourne borough boundary. This will not affect plans to install a replacement shelter at the site.”
Readers on our Facebook page have shared their frustration over the delay – and say when they do finally arrive the new shelters are ‘nothing special’. Others say a couple have been damaged already.
Jo Jones, said: “Stood in drizzle yesterday as our bus stop has been taken away, new one arriving next year apparently!
Perhaps our MP could get whoever to get a move on before winter comes!”
Madeleine Chippendale, writes: “Ours was taken down in March and has only just been replaced - nothing special about it and less seating - was not worth it at all.”
Tony Jackson, says: “The new one went in outside my house last week. A bit smaller with no seat but about the same as the perfectly good one they ripped out a couple of months ago.”
Gary Wren adds: “Should of been one out one in with the bus stops. The amount of people I’ve seen standing in the blaring sun or the rain. It’s not good enough. The one near us is up but there’s no seats and no panes.”