Bus shelter 'mystery' solved

A bus shelter placed in the middle of a footpath on Spencer Street over the weekend has caused widespread disbelief, with residents taking to Facebook to express their views.

“The path was there first for years, are the council and council workers truly getting that stupid and lazy?” Teisha Beveridge asked.

“I would hate to be a blind person going for a walk in Bunbury,” Anton Thompson said.

Even Bunbury city councillor Murray Cook admitted his surprise online.

“Not a good look just what we need, make vision impaired people walk straight into a wall,” he said.

Other residents commented that the shelter obstructing the footpathwas a hazard for both pedestrians and cyclists who could not see each other as they approached.

Don Hyland’s theory that the obstruction was an attempt by the City of Bunbury to prevent pedestrians from wearing out the footpath was entertaining, but the truth appears to be much less sinister.

“The bus shelter was originally located just south of the intersection of Spencer Street and Stuart Street and would have interfered with the safe operation of the new traffic signals if retained in that location,” City of Bunbury director of works and services Phil Harris said.

“For that reason the shelter needed to be relocated to its current location as soon as possible.

“The concreting was organised to follow as quickly as possible, weather and staff availability permitting.

“It is regrettable, however, that the shelter went in first.”

Mr Harris said that a decision on the new location was made after consultation with the Public Transport Authority and the owners of the shelter, Adshel.

“The new location outside the Admiral Motor Inn was recommended and it was decided to install the shelter on the existing path so that a concrete footpath with tactile indicators (a PTA requirement) could be installed out the front,” Mr Harris said.

“It was not possible to locate the bus shelter behind the path as that would be on private property owned by the Admiral Motor Inn.”

Concreting for the new, diverted footpath was due to be finished by yesterday afternoon.