Bus shelter delayed for five years

4:55pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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Residents in Marston, Oxford, have been told they will have to wait five years for a new bus shelter.

Croft Road resident Michael Haines claimed Marston was at the bottom of the city council's list of priorities.

He said: "Barton and Risinghurst are not waiting for five years for new bus shelters. Neither is Blackbird Leys.

"There are some that are going in sooner. Why are we being made to wait as long as this when other areas are not?

"It's wrong, and I feel this is yet another example of Marston being forgotten while other areas get the work done."

Oxford City Council has pledged to install more than 180 new bus shelters across the city over the next five years.

Its schedule of work in Marston will see four new shelters installed in the first year, three in the second year, four in the third year, one in the fourth, and one - in Marston Road near the junction with Jack Straw's Lane - in the fifth.

Mr Haines added: "There are a lot of elderly people in the Marston area who use buses to get about. New shelters are vital to them.

"Our shelters have windows missing, holes in the roof, and are badly vandalised. We desperately need the new shelters."

George Evans, 76, of Marston Road said: "I think it's disgusting we have to wait as long as that for the new shelters, even three years is too long.

"The bus stop opposite my house has no seats for old people to sit down and they are forced to stand and wait. There is no point doing half at a time, they should do them all at once."

Mother-of-two Hillary Godfrey, 45, of Lynn Close said: "Surely carrying out the work in dribs and drabs like this is going to cost the taxpayer more money.

"Why not stick to one area and get it all done at once?"

Oxford City Council said there were other bus shelters due for installation in year five, in Banbury Road, Cowley Road, Abingdon Road and St Aldate's.

Council spokesman Chris Lee said: "It is inaccurate to say Marston is at the bottom of the priority list for new shelters. Priority is given to areas where shelters are in most need."