Bus shelters are being removed from the east bound side of Royal Parade in preparation for an improvement scheme that will see new, bigger shelters installed.
Key Takeaways for Royal Parade Bus Shelters
- Bus Shelter Removal for Improvements: 12 bus shelters along Royal Parade are being removed as part of the Royal Parade Bus Improvement scheme, which will replace them with 15 larger, upgraded shelters featuring better seating and space for wheelchair users and pushchairs.
- Temporary Shelter Issues: Due to delays in the contract negotiations, there will be a temporary lack of shelters between Courtenay Street and St Andrews Cross. The council is working on a solution, including temporary seating options, and will provide further details when available.
- Alternative Arrangements for Bus Passengers: As each shelter is removed, affected bus services are temporarily relocated to the large shelter at Derry’s Cross roundabout. Passengers are being informed through posters at each site about where to catch their bus.
A total of 12 Royal Parade bus shelters will be taken down by JC Decaux who no longer have the bus shelter contract for the city.
The plan is for the new providers Clear Channel to install 15 bigger shelters along the key route with upgraded seating and more space for wheelchair users and pushchairs as part of the Royal Parade Bus Improvement scheme
However, negotiations around the improvement scheme contract have proved unsuccessful and while the council is working quickly to resolve this, it means there will be no shelters on Royal Parade between Courtenay Street and St Andrews Cross for a period of time.
A council spokesperson said:
“We are aware this is far from ideal and are sorry for the inconvenience this will cause. We are urgently looking for some form of temporary shelter with seating and will give details if this is confirmed.”
Since January 13 one shelter a day has been removed from Royal Parade, starting with the shelters between Courtenay Street and the Armada Way crossing.
On the day each shelter is removed, bus services that would normally use that stop will be temporarily relocated to the large stainless steel shelter at the bottom end of Royal Parade outside Premier Inn on Derry’s Cross roundabout.
Posters will be displayed in the existing bus shelters telling people when the shelter will be removed and where to catch their bus while the removal works take place.
There is shelter under the shop canopy along most of Royal Parade, but those who prefer a shelter with seating may wish to wait for their bus at the next available stop. Other temporary options are being considered in the meantime.
As soon as the plans for the Royal Parade Bus Improvement scheme are finalised, the council will give full details of the temporary plan for buses during the main construction phase.
Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport said:
“Unfortunately works have had to be delayed by a few months. We are conscious that this is not an ideal time of year to remove shelters and we are asking you to please bear with us.
“We have wrestled with what is the best approach to take and believe that installing new shelters, taking them out and then putting them back is simply too confusing. I am all too aware that it’s cold on Royal Parade so have instructed officers to see if they can come up with a plan B for providing some form of shelter with seating.”
For more information visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/royal-parade-bus-shelter-replacement
