Bus stops have been replaced in Helensburgh and Lomond without the knowledge of local councillors, it has been claimed.
Cllr George Freeman said during a full council meeting that he had been surprised by work taking place at a bus stop in Garelochhead, across from the Anchor Bar.
He appealed for councillors to be kept informed on planned works, and for the stop to be returned to its original location due to traffic problems.
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said the programme of work had been due to take place in 2020, but was delayed due to Covid-19.
New bus stops appeared on the Rosneath Peninsula in 2019, despite landowners not being told of the work, and drawing criticism from residents.
Cllr Freeman originally commented on the latest work during a meeting of the council last month, and subsequently by email to the council.
He said during the meeting: “Over the past couple of months there has been a great deal of work going on putting up new shelters, some of which have not needed replaced.
“There has been criticism on this issue in the centre of Garelochhead. There was a large layby with a bus stop and shelter.
“Contractors spent two days doing works to the pavement and moved the bus stop. Buses now have to stop in the middle of the road, blocking the traffic.
“Why does that go on without any consultation with local members? I will come back to officers with what is what on this, but local members must be consulted on these things.
“This would save a great deal of money and criticism for some of the actions the council takes.”
Cllr Freeman was then invited to contact the council by email with his concerns, which he did in the days following the meeting.
In the email he said: “The first I became aware of any change was when I noted contractors on site over a two-day period with heavy plant and machinery carrying out major works to the pavement to extend the pavement and shorten the layby.
“This clearly must have cost the public purse a great deal of money.
“The location where the new bus shelter has been placed, and where the pavement has been widened, now requires buses to stop on the main road, which stops all traffic heading north to stop or be delayed.
“I would ask that as a matter of urgency, this bus shelter/stop is relocated back to its original location in the layby so as to allow traffic to again run freely along the B872.”
A council spokesperson said: “The work being carried out on the bus shelters on the Rosneath Peninsula is part of a £100,000 project funded by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.
“It was scheduled to be carried out in 2020, but was delayed because of Covid-19. Details are available on the council’s website.
“The bus shelters that have been removed that are in good condition will be recycled and used elsewhere in Argyll and Bute where we do not have the benefit of the additional funding.
“By moving the bus stop in Garelochhead, we have ensured that people with mobility difficulties can access the bus from the safety of the pavement, away from parked cars.”
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