By Cost of bus stop installation blunder revealed
A bus stop that was installed in early April ended up leaving some locals and spectators of the installation slightly puzzled.
The bus stop was installed in April and had reportedly been in planning since mid-2021 for installation on Sea Road.
When it was installed on Sea Road it was placed directly in front of two otherwise perfectly functional benches, meaning they were inaccessible.
Several users took to social media to express their confusion and frustration over the matter.
Speaking via Facebook, one wrote: “Another costly disaster. The council has totally destroyed that lovely road!”
Another added: “Bizarre but as usual, it’s for cost. It’s a standard off-the-shelf shelter, building a bespoke one to cover the wall benches would cost more.
“Very sad to see and looks awful. They could have built it much closer to the road for the same cost and kept the wall benches.”
“How ridiculous, those benches are constantly in use and are extremely helpful to the disabled and elderly,” said one frustrated local.
The works were funded as part of a £3m scheme through the Humber and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Speaking at the time Councillor Stewart Swinburn, said: “When we receive funding, we always aim to identify the projects that will bring about the biggest improvements to residents and businesses.”
Now, the cost has been revealed and an explanation has been provided by NELC for the reasoning.
The contractors can be seen above removing the bus stop within around two hours of it’s installation.
In their statement from an FOI submitted regarding the installation NELC said:
“The Bus Shelter was planned since mid-2021 for installation on Sea Road, but due to COVID and shortages of raw materials and shipping containers, the supplier delayed the delivery of the shelter several times.
“The shelter was planned to be installed on the kerbside, facing away from the carriageway. When the shelter was eventually delivered on 14th March 2022, the contractor began digging and uncovered two ducts (electrical and telecoms) running adjacent to the curb.
“Due to the depth and location of the ducts, we instructed the contractor to install the shelter at the back of the path, up against the wall, and to avoid blocking seating.
“The contractor installed the shelter adjacent to where it was originally going to go but at the back of the path, in front of the benches.”
NELC said the company responsible for erecting the shelter was Clear Channel and the cost was £10,484.59.
