A Breath Of Fresh Air,

is what the people of Belvidere Road, Wallasey, Merseyside will get,

when the local bus company replace this bus stop shelter in a open and windswept part of town with just a plain bus stop pole, and here is a second breath of fresh air, for once the decision is not based on a Health and Safety issue it is being replaced under the Equality Act, the plan has upset many nearby residents - and their objections have been taken up by ward councillor Leah Fraser, She has written to the public transport organisation saying: 

"I have been made aware of the notice at this bus stop indicating you are considering removing the shelter and replacing it with a pole. This would cause considerable hardship, and I don’t use the word lightly, for many elderly people who regularly use the shelter. Several of them have contacted me to say they are very upset and as I live nearby myself I can understand why. Belvidere Road is quite open and at times is a very bleak, cold and windy location, within Wallasey over the years there have been a number of shelters where glass has been damaged by yobs and replaced - yet in this location vandalism has never been an issue. So I am surprised that in an area of older residents, they are expected to be sheltered by a pole. There is nowhere else for people to shelter at all. Could you please tell me the reason behind this proposal?" 

and the reply, a Merseytravel spokesman said: “Merseytravel is reviewing the Belvidere Road bus stop for a number of reasons, "The shelter needs maintenance and the parts required are no longer available, (not so according to some there are many shelters like this across the country), "It doesn’t meet current legislation within the Equalities Act and there have been reports of anti-social behaviour at this site, not so, I have had a quick read of the act and can find no mention of bus shelters, if you find a reference to bus shelters please let me know! as regard to anti-social behaviour I refer you the letter above from ward councillor Leah Fraser, so what next? wrap up warm and take an umbrella I guess, still at least they are not blaming a Health and Safety issue!