Anyone who reads the forum regularly might remember an question that came up on Candidates Corner (the discussion board we set up for members of the public to pose questions to candidates for the local parish elections) back in December regarding bus shelters.
Forum member Lulu, posed a question about the maintenance of the bus shelters in town and asked who was responsible, the town council or Southern Vectis?
One of the candidates for the town council vacancy, Mark Compton-Hall – a member of many voluntary organisations on the Island, followed up this question and then drove forward a project to repair and smarten up the bus shelters.
Mark got in touch with the council and Rob Reed, our Town Centre Manager, and an assessment took place of the shelters. It was found that there was :
- No lighting in either of them
- Only bench seating in the one on the side of Trinity Church, the one on St Wilfred’s School side only has a concrete ledge at
- the back that has had most of the paving slab seats prised off.
- The roofs are rotten in places and ivy has started to grow through on the shelter on the St Wilfred’s side of the road.
- They both have window frames but because there isn’t any glass or pespex in them, they are useless.
- The shelter on the Church side has been subjected to some offensive graffiti.
- Both shelter’s look dilapidated and in need of some TLC.
- They are the gateway to Ventnor when you approach from the eastern side and currently project the wrong image.
Following a meeting between Mark, Rob, Richard Baker from Highways and the member of the public who raised the question, it was agreed that the shelters needed some urgent attention and an action plan put into place.
Lighting is to be fitted, repairs to existing stonework for flower beds (using the skills of a retired local stonemason) carried out, seating to be repaired or replaced where necessary, offensive graffiti removed, litter bins to be fitted and rusting street furniture to be replaced.
Although Southern Vectis are not responsible for the upkeep or maintenance of the bus shelters, they registered to join the forum to make this statement:
Although as Chris told the Town Manager, it is the Council who are responsible for Bus Shelters, we do like the idea of local communities who take some responsibility for upkeeping them. On that basis we would be please to make a financial contribution to your project, and offer some time from our own maintenance team.
Best of luck. Southern Vectis
We’re over the moon that the forum is being used in this way to raise issues of concern and that not only does it spark action, but through the hard work and dedication of a handful of individuals sees results. Well done to everyone concerned and good on you, Southern Vectis for making such valuable contributions.
