New bus stops have appeared across the Rosneath Peninsula as part of a £100,000 project by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.
But at least one of the ‘more contemporary’ bus stops is in the wrong place, according to residents, while the trust which owns much of the land says it knew nothing about the work.
A spokesperson for SPT said: “As part of a £100,000 capital project, SPT is funding a number of bus infrastructure upgrades in the Helensburgh and Lomond area between Garelochhead and Ardpeaton.
“This includes the installation of high raise kerbs and introducing a number of more contemporary bus shelters alongside new tactile paving to help those with visual impairments.
“The location of the bus shelters was agreed following discussion and agreement with Argyll and Bute Council as the roads authority, and in discussion with elected members and operators.”
The land on which several of the new bus stops are sited is owned by Cove and Kilcreggan Trust – a spokesperson said they had not been told the work would happen, and had been contacted by residents about the positioning of a bus stance west of Cove Burgh Hall.
He said SPT had not replied to the trust’s inquiries and Argyll and Bute Council had eventually said it had ‘discretionary rights’ to carry out the work and did not have to consult landowners.
Jonathan Ward, who lives opposite the newly-installed bus stop near Cove Burgh Hall, said he had raised concerns about this even before work started, and the workmen had churned up the grass verge which he mows on the seaward side of the road.
He added: “We object strongly to this new stop which we now expect to have a sign added.
“Aside from the evident landownership matter, this stop is completely unrequired since the Burgh Hall stop is covered by a ‘Both Ways’ stop as per the new sign.
“We bought these properties in the knowledge that the natural shoreline was protected from development by the trust.
“Both SPT and Argyll and Bute Council have in this instance ignored not only the landowner but also the wishes of the residents and wasted our taxes on unwanted development in a conservation area.
“The money wasted on this unnecessary bus stop would have been better spent on improving the pavements and clearing the persistent blocked drain on the corner near Silver Bay which has been a problem for over a decade.”
Another Cove resident who contacted this website said she had been completely taken by surprise when the work started.
“I think it be more appropriate and safer opposite one of the vehicular entrances to the burgh hall, next to the war memorial,” she added.
“Most people getting off in that vicinity are for the Burgh Hall and will ask the driver to stop there to save them walking 100 yards back, and if that happens it will have been an even bigger waste of money.”
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