Bus stop goes after legal hitch

By David Newble

Sunday, August 26, 2012

 

Bus stop goes after legal hitch

The site of the former bus stop at Whitwell.

A WRANGLE over the position of a bus-stop in Whitwell remains unsolved by Southern Vectis, the parish council and highways bosses at the IW Council.
The bus-stop, which has been located on the driveway of a cottage in the High Street for at least 20 years, has been removed after the new owner of the property was told there was no legal agreement between the landowner and the bus company to site it there.
The IW Council and Southern Vectis have been trying to find a new site for the bus stop but without success.
It means residents are now faced with a 200-yard walk to reach alternative stops at Bannock Road or at the village church.
The row surfaced two months ago when Rose Cottage was bought by Anna Bryant.
Mrs Bryant told the County Press lawyers found there was no legal agreement for the bus stop to be on her driveway.
She said: “Our solicitors said it must have been something that just happened years ago.
“They carried out a search to find out what a bus-stop was doing here. They were looking for a legal agreement but there was none.”
She added: “I sympathise with people but I am not going to be held responsible for someone who might be knocked down.”
Whitwell parish Cllr Simon Haytack said residents were unhappy about having to walk up the hill to the alternative stop at the church or having to wait at Bannock Road, which did not have a pavement.
He added: “I can understand why Mrs Bryant wanted it moved as it is on her driveway.”
Cllr Haytack said the parish had written to Southern Vectis about the problem and suggested an alternative site near the White Horse pub.
Bill Murphy, head of the IW Council’s planning and regulatory services said: “We share the frustrations of residents and the parish council as we are keen to promote the use of public transport.
“But we are unable to locate a bus stop where people can wait safely off the highway.”
A Southern Vectis spokesman said there were other stops, at Bannock Road and the church.

Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk

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