Clayton-le-Moors: Damaged bus stop replaced after six month wait

Cllr Noordad Aziz has been contacting Lancashire County Council since September to replace a bus stop which was damaged during a crash.

After a ‘battle back and forth’, Cllr Aziz said himself and residents are feeling relieved because they can now access bus services in a safe manner – with access to public transport ‘massively important’.

Cllr Aziz said: “In September the bus stop was involved in a road traffic accident, so there was a car accident where someone ran into it, and we have been waiting since September for it to be repaired.

“I reported it and, at first, they had to get the clearance from the insurance. Then, with the system and with issues at the county council, not being sure when they got paid.

“We have been waiting and it’s been a constant battle back and forth to try and get it repaired.

The bus stop being replaced (Image: Cllr Noordad Aziz)

“Residents wanted the bus stop to return because it was a danger to residents and those who wanted to use it couldn’t so quite a few residents got in touch.

“Firstly, there is a safety aspect but secondly residents had to go to another bus stop.

“From September we had bad weather and with a smashed bus stop it’s not protecting residents while they are waiting for a bus.

“It is a relief for me that the bus stop has been replaced because now it's no longer an eyesore and residents can use the bus stop like normal, so it’s a relief more than anything and it's another issue resolved for residents.

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“It is massively important that residents have access to bus stops and services, I think public transport and accessibility is huge because we want to promote people leaving their cars at home and also if we have got nice bus stops more people will be encouraged to use them.”

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "We're sorry for the length of time it has taken to repair this bus shelter following the incident towards the end of last year.

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"We always attempt to recover the cost of repair or replacement of bus shelters via insurance in the first instance, before repairs are carried out as it can often be more difficult to recuperate damages once the shelter has already been repaired.

"We are still pursuing a claim for the damage to this shelter; however, we have now repaired it as we don't want people to be inconvenienced any longer as they wait for their bus.

"Access to bus stops and services is important for local residents and over the past three years we have invested £3.5m into new shelters across parts of Lancashire.

"We are continuing to invest in our bus shelter stock over the coming years to maintain them to the highest possible standard."

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