A whopping £258,000 cash injection is headed our way to stop passengers getting drenched while waiting for the bus. Nearly 40 stops across Canterbury, Whitstable, and Herne Bay are set for a massive upgrade with brand-new, top-of-the-range shelters.
The council bagged the mega-bucks from central government via Kent County Council to help coax drivers out of their cars and onto public transport. Council bosses, local ward councillors, and ordinary residents have all chipped in to pick the perfect spots for the new shelters.
To qualify, the stops just need enough space on the pavement for pedestrians to squeeze past and a decent number of passengers actually using them.
An excited Cllr Mel Dawkins, cabinet member for transport, couldn’t hide her joy over the win. She said:
“This is absolutely fantastic news. I am so pleased we are going to be able to provide better waiting facilities for so many bus passengers with this money. It is something that is raised with us frequently by residents. Knowing you’re not going to get drenched while waiting for it to arrive is right up there.
“Many people who only use cars do not comprehend the reality of the need for a proper shelter and view of approaching buses when they also have mobility issues.”
Cllr Dawkins added that with a “fair wind behind us,” the vast majority of the shelters will be up and running by late autumn and winter—just when the British weather is at its absolute worst.
The mega-list of locations set for an upgrade includes Ye Olde Beverlie, Archbishop’s School, Downs Road, Headcorn Drive, Forty Acres Road, Longmeadow Way, Kingsmead Road, Westgate Court Avenue, Ashford Road in Thanington, and Barton Court School. Shelters are also coming to St Martin’s Hill, St Martin’s Hospital, Nackington Road, Queens Avenue, Beech Avenue in Chartham, and St Edmund’s School.
Coastal commuters can celebrate too, with upgrades heading to Borstal Hill, Oxford Road, and Tankerton Road in Whitstable, alongside Sea Street, The Broadway, Station Road, Queens Court, Reculver Road, Talmead Road, and Sainsbury’s in Herne Bay. Finally, stops at Wildwood in Herne, Chestfield Road, and Bramling will also get a revamp.
While the council doesn’t legally need permission to put them up, they have promised to write to nearby homeowners as a courtesy. They’ve even offered to scrap specific locations if neighbours lodge a serious and legitimate complaint.