Local residents in Plympton are voicing strong concerns over newly installed bus shelters on Glen Road, near Edwards Drive and Bellingham Crescent, which they claim provide inadequate protection from the elements.
The residents who rely on these shelters daily are particularly affected, stating that the short canopy and limited side panels leave them exposed to rain and wind, especially when lorries pass causing spray.
Jillian Oxley, frequent user of the Glen Road bus stops, expressed her disappointment:
“Myself and others we’re happy with the previous shelters, and now the new shelters barely keep us dry. Many of us use these buses every day, and this just isn’t good enough.
“We feel overlooked by the council. Where was the local consultation with residents?”
Local ward representative for Plympton Chaddlewood Councillor Ian Poyser, Green Party supports the residents’ calls for improvements to the shelters, stating,
“Our community deserves functional and comfortable bus shelters, especially in high-traffic areas like Glen Road where we have high volumes of HGV traffic.
“I’m working closely with residents. I urge the council to quickly put right the mistakes and provide effective protection from the weather.”
“This isn’t the only mistake the Council has made in Chaddlewood. We have also received a significant number of requests to reinstate a bus shelter at the junction with Redwood Drive, Glen Road. This is the main bus stop for a large residential area. There must be issues elsewhere across the city”
The new bus shelter contract was agreed by the previous Conservative Council administration in 2022, leaving the Labour administration with the difficult task of mobilising the contract.
Residents and Councillor Poyser are hopeful that their concerns will prompt action from the council, resulting in improvements that meet the standards required by local bus users. Until then, local residents near Glen Road remain vocal, advocating for the change they need.
