New island to be removed after bus ‘shambles’

HomeNewsUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessWorld of BusinessTechnology of BusinessNYSE Opening BellTechnologyWatch DocumentariesArtificial IntelligenceIntelligence RevolutionAI v the MindTech NowHealthWatch DocumentariesCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListTo the Ends of the Earth EarthWatch DocumentariesScienceNatural WondersClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroDiscover the WorldLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesSite searchHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersNew island to be removed after bus 'shambles'8 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDan Martin,Leicester political reporterandAmy Payne,East MidlandsBBCThe county council said it would run a taxi shuttle to the nearest bus stop 500 metres (1,640ft) from the junctionA newly-installed pedestrian island is to be removed after it left a road in a village in Leicestershire too narrow for buses to get through.

Arriva Midlands has withdrawn its services from the centre of Queniborough because it said its drivers were unable to get along Rearsby Road without mounting the pavement.

The island was installed as part of work to upgrade a nearby junction, which was completed on Saturday 3 October, but has not left enough space in the road for larger vehicles to get round it.

Leicestershire County Council said the junction work had been carried out by contractors for developer David Wilson Homes but the design had "not proved correct".

David Wilson Homes said it would "implement any changes identified as quickly as possible so that the bus service can operate as normal".

James Poland, county councillor for the village, said the island needed to be taken out quickly so Arriva could resume its 5 and 5A services.

"The whole situation is a total shambles and it's hard to understand how it has happened," he said.

The county council said the island would be taken out temporarily while a new design for the junction, able to take buses, was drawn up.

A council spokesperson said: "We recognise the frustration this issue has caused residents who rely on local bus services.

"The central crossing island is part of a wider scheme of work to enhance junction capacity following a recent David Wilson Homes development.

"We have met with the developers of the scheme and highlighted the issues raised and they will be rectifying the situation as soon as possible.

"Whilst a permanent rework of the scheme is finalised, the pedestrian crossing point is set to be removed so buses can use the road."

Poland said he had warned highways officials the new island would leave Rearsby Road unusable for large buses but had not been listened to.

"It's really frustrating because people have had to put up with three months of disruption while the work was done in the first place.

"Now there will be more messing about while they take the thing out.

"I've been told it could happen as early as next week.

"People rely on buses getting into the village.

"I have heard from the family of an 11-year-old girl who now has to walk 500 metres up to Melton Road to get her school bus.

"I want to know what's gone wrong and I want to know that this kind of mess won't happen anywhere in the future."

A spokesperson for Arriva said: "Safety is our first priority. After the junction in Queniborough reopened, we carried out a risk assessment and found our buses can't get through the new layout without mounting the pavement.

"That isn't something we can ask our drivers to do and it puts pedestrians and other road users at risk.

"We're sorry that, as a result, services 5 and 5A are not currently serving Queniborough village. Customers can use the nearest stop on Melton Road, which is 500 metres away.

"We're in dialogue with Leicestershire County Council Highways and we're keen to work with them to find a solution that lets buses serve the village safely and reliably."

The county council said it would run a free taxi service from the Rearsby Road, near the crossroads, to take people to the nearest bus stop 500 metres (1,640ft) away in Melton Road.

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