A bus stop is normally a welcomed addition to a residential street, but not when it’s installed at the end of your driveway – which Christopher Harris and Michelle Smith have just discovered
A couple were astounded to come home from work last week to find a brand new bus stop at the end of their driveway. And the new fixture is far from convenient as buses now pull up in front of the house — blocking the pair’s access to their residence.
Christopher Harris and Michelle Smith, of Llantrisant Road in Beddau, in the South Wales Valleys, told WalesOnline they had been aware of plans for the bus stop in the street but those plans had been slated for further up the road. When Mr Harris returned home last Thursday he said the bus stop had been erected outside his home with a pole placed in his hedge which perplexed him.
Since then, he said he’s had multiple buses park up and stop at the end of his driveway, blocking him inside the property. The problem is made even worse when the buses are running ahead of schedule and stop for lengthy periods of time out the front of the house.
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Mr Harris said he has spoken to one of the bus drivers about the new stop who sympathised with him and said it should never have been put at the end of the driveway. When the school term starts again next month, dozens of children are expected to be waiting outside the residence every morning.
He said: “On Saturday morning he was parked there for a while and I said: ‘Nothing against you mate, but you’re blocking my driveway. He called his company and told them that a bus stop was blocking the house and he said he totally agreed with me that it wasn’t right. He was good as gold. So we’ll see what comes of it now because it can’t go on like this.
“I have threatened that if buses continue to block my drive then I will block the bus stop. I’ll have no choice. When I saw the plans it was supposed to be up the road so I didn’t take any notice. But we had parking spaces outside our house and now we’ve lost those spaces.
“That wasn’t in any consultation. At no point did they ever say the stop would be there. When I got home from work last week I was honestly in disbelief.
“They’ve put the post in my hedge and the bus stop is literally right at the end of my drive. The buses are being told to stop right on a dropped kerb which I’m sure isn’t legal.
“Of course, by the time I realised all of this they’d finished. So far everyone I’ve spoken to hasn’t been able to help me. Not only have we lost parking spaces outside the house without notice, we’re often being blocked into our own drive.”
A spokesman for Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council confirmed the council would look into the matter. They said: “Adding the new bus stop within Beddau is intended to improve access to local bus services for the community. Officers have received the concerns raised by the resident and will look into them as a priority issue.”
Mr Harris explained: “I’ve got the local councillor coming out to see me because this is just ridiculous. I’m also waiting for the traffic officer to give me a call. When you Google it there is plenty of information online about why a bus stop should not be placed on a dropped kerb. I can’t believe it’s been put there.
“The bus stops have been moved to accommodate the school kids. So I could have God knows how many kids smack outside my gates every day. What happens when I open my gates and try to get my car out in the morning?”