Nexus slammed as communities forced to wait up to 15 years for new bus shelters

Transport chiefs at Nexus have been accused of leaving people out in the cold – literally – as it is revealed that they have been making communities wait up to 15 years for new bus shelters.

Lib Dem councillors in Sunderland have revealed that some communities in Tyne and Wear have been waiting up to 15 years for transport organisation Nexus to install desperately needed new bus shelters.

The situation came to light after a request by older people living off St Luke’s Road in Ford Estate for a new shelter at their local Phoenix Road bus terminus was persistently ignored by Nexus.

A Freedom of Information request by Wearside Lib Dems revealed that:

• There are 115 outstanding requests for new bus stops; 60 of which are in Sunderland.
• The oldest outstanding requests dates from 2010.

Nexus would not comment on how much they have committed to spend on new and replacement bus shelters to meet requests from residents.

The situation was slammed by Lib Dem Sunderland city councillors who have accused Nexus of treating bus passengers on Wearside as second best - and who are demanding a commitment to finally installing new bus shelters across the city.

Commenting, Lib Dem councillor for Pallion and Ford Estate Martin Haswell said:

“It is an absolute disgrace that transport bosses at Nexus are literally leaving people in Sunderland out in the cold by ignoring dozens requests for new bus shelters to be installed.

“With over half of the ignored requests being in Sunderland, and with some communities waiting for 15 years for a bus shelter, it is clear that Nexus couldn’t give a toss about listening to bus passengers who are stuck out waiting in all weathers without much-needed shelters.

“I am calling on Nexus Managing Director Cathy Massarella and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness to come and meet with local people in Ford Estate and explain to them why their organisation is treating reasonable requests for a new bus shelter with such utter contempt.

“Hopefully this will shame Nexus into doing the right thing by installing new bus shelters at the 60 locations on Wearside where they have been requested.”