Lib Dems Call for Action After Brickhill Bus Stop Survey Reveals Major Problems

A survey by Brickhill Liberal Democrat councillors of all bus stops and bus shelters in Brickhill identified has identified some major problems.

Following the survey, carried out on Sunday 18th January 2009, the Lib Dems are calling for urgent action:

• To repair four damaged bus shelters and make them more vandal-proof
• To ensure bus timetables are displayed for all services
• To correct out-of-date telephone numbers on bus stops.

They found that perspex or glass panels are currently missing from 4 bus shelters. Lib Dem Councillor Wendy Rider said: "The council needs to do more to keep the shelters in good condition. They also need to make them more vandal-proof. I also urge residents to report vandalism to the police".

The Lib Dems are also calling for the timetables to be displayed at all bus stops for all routes. There are no details displayed anywhere in Brickhill for the Cedar Coaches services along Kimbolton Road or the Sunday services. Cllr Charles Royden said: "These services are funded by the County Council but if people don't know about them then it is not surprising that their use is low. We need to get information easily available for residents".

Some bus stops used by Cedar Coaches either have no telephone enquiry number visible or display an out of date number. Cllr Wendy Rider said: "It is important to give accurate information. Giving the correct phone number is very important".

Detailed findings

Damaged bus shelters

Shelters with missing or damaged panels are:

Avon Drive (opposite Pheasant pub) - one panel missing

Tyne Crescent (near Rhineland Way) - two panels have holes

Tyne Crescent (near Moriston Road) - three panels are missing

Avon Drive (near Irvine Court) - one panel is missing.

Missing Bus Timetables

Cedar Coaches provide Sunday services through Brickhill:

Sunday Service A (Brickhill Drive, Waveney Ave., Avon Drive & Tyne Crescent)

Sunday Service B (Tyne Crescent, Avon Drive, Waveney Ave., & Brickhill Drive)

They also run services along Kimbolton Road:

Service 152 from Bedford to St Neots

There are no timetables for these services at any of the 21 bus stops in Brickhill.

Stagecoach timetables are missing from the following bus stops:

Tyne Crescent (opposite Carron Road)

Avon Drive (outside Brickhill Community Centre)

Out of date telephone numbers on bus stops

Four bus stops show an out-of-date telephone enquiries number for Traveline.

Instead of showing 0871 200 22 33, these bus stops show 0870 608 2608:

Kimbolton Road (near number 253)

Tyne Crescent (near Rhineland Way)

Tyne Crescent (near Leven Walk)

Tyne Crescent (near Otter Walk)

The bus stop in Kimbolton Road near Hollington and the stop in Avon Drive opposite the Pheasant don't show the correct Traveline number either.

These bus stops are all served by Cedar Coaches.