New bus shelters are a ticket to ride

The Borough Council’s contribution and a £66,000 Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)* grant has funded nine new shelters that are expected to last for 25 years.

Councillor Jo Rust, Cabinet Member for People and Communities, said:

“This was an excellent opportunity to improve our bus-stop infrastructure. We've been able to replace ageing shelters for less than it would have cost us to carry out major repairs, while also providing residents with modern facilities that will serve them for many years to come.

"Bus services are vitally important in our borough and many people rely on them. High-quality infrastructure is an important part of the overall service and these new shelters are just the ticket!”

The £82,500 replacement programme followed inspections which identified a range of issues with the existing shelters, including broken glazing, damaged and boarded panels, graffiti and other defects. Several shelters had reached the end of their useful lives and there were concerns about their long-term structural condition.

Just repairing the shelters would have cost more than £34,000 due to their condition. However, by securing BSIP funding, the council has been able to replace them altogether with much longer-lasting structures.

The new shelters will also save money – the old ones had electrical supplies and carried advertising, which meant they were liable for business rates. Removing the electrical connections and installing advert-free shelters means that the Borough Council’s share of the investment in the scheme should be recouped in around 4½ years.

Shelter locations

• Two on Winston Churchill Drive, Fairstead
• One on William Booth Road, Fairstead
• Three on Gayton Road
• One on Saddlebow Road, South Lynn
• One on Queen Mary Road, Gaywood
• One on Parkway, Gaywood

*The Bus Service Improvement Plan fund is operated by Norfolk County Council.