Rutland Villages Like Exton, Not Happy with Rutland County Council and Shorelink Bus
There have been letters in the local press expressing concern regarding the tourist bus along the Avenue in Exton and the changes made to the grass triangle plus the apparent lack of consultation with Exton Parish Council and thus the village.
EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE EXTON PARISH COUNCIL JUNE MEETING:
……….‘Tourist Bus, Bus stops and Turning points: RCC Highways sent a member of staff to this meeting to hear issues of concern.
Since the last meeting much communication had taken place between various members of the council and RCC Highways regarding this matter.
Exton PC had no information about this service and its impact on the Avenue until after the work had began.
The erection of a Bus shelter in the Avenue only really came to light after the Clerk had contacted Terry King and RCC the following day after the last pc meeting raising objections to any such proposals without prior consultation.
The Bus shelter was not put in place but regardless of so many voicing their concerns Villagers and councilors) about the proposed Bus turning point RCC continued to chop corners off and tarmac over this space.
Some villagers had expressed their concerns over the lack of perceived appreciation of the historic value and aesthetic beauty of the Avenue and many had contacted T King directly.
The Chair had contacted the local Police for their advice regarding safety issues with the turning point (the once triangle shaped junction) and had taken ***pictures of the bus experiencing difficulties turning, with a vehicle on the opposite side of the road having to mount the grass verge to pass.
Moreover the bus then reversed back across the road in order to attempt to turn the bus around.
Villagers have also sent photos of how since the changes to the triangle have taken place the remaining grass has repeatedly been chewed up by a very large vehicle. So it was basically three main issues which were of concern:
1. The total lack of consultation by RCC to Exton PC.
2. The Bus stop and Shelter and protection of the Avenue
3. The Safety Issues regarding the turning point for the bus.
Sally Killips from Highways firstly apologized for the lack of consultation and acknowledged that Exton PC should have been notified.
She also made it perfectly plain to council that should the Tourist Bus not be successful that RCC would guarantee that all the changes that it had undertaken in the Avenue would be removed and returned to its original condition, removing tarmac etc.
Sally was questioned about the economical issues surrounding this service and informed council that RCC had secured a grant of four million pounds (funded from central government) of which some was allocated to this service.
The money for this project was expected to last until March 2015 but it was hoped with consultation with the Bus company that it would be potentially continued until 2016. Council was also informed that it takes 56 days to alter the route and this was a factor in any potential changes in the future.
Council was asked what was its real issue of concern and whether they felt the bus should come to Exton or not and remain on the main road. The Chair made it perfectly clear that this was not really the issue being raised. The Council appreciated that the bus could not visit every attraction in the area and had NO objection to it visiting Barnsdale Gardens or even the Bakery or even Exton but that it had proposed at the very least two if not three reasonable alternative routes which it would like RCC to consider rather than using the junction in the Avenue as a turning point.
Moreover it was pointed out that many thought that this project was a worthwhile enterprise and the disabled facilities notable. But again concerns were raised about the idea put forward by RCC that people would be able to access other tourist attractions along the Avenue from the Barnsdale Gardens point. It was assumed that this would be bikers but questions concerning the movement of the disabled and pedestrians should surely be paid attention. Council also asked could it not be considered that those with Bus passes might be able to use the pass on earlier bus times to make the most of this system. Finally the council thanked Sally for attending the meeting and attempting to address some issues………..”
[…………..the photos following show recent incidents with the new tourist bus………….]
N.B. This is an ongoing issue, if you have any views regarding the situation, the bus negotiating the turn or you have had to pass with your own vehicle then please give full details in writing to the Clerk – Jo Downton, Blacksmiths Lane.
All information will be reported in future discussions with the Council and bus company and any factual evidence of problems will be very useful.
*Pictures referred to in the minutes above showing the difficulties.
The concept of this tourist bus is good, but it should not be accessing some of Rutland's finest villages.
I stood and watched the bus in Egleton, the small village roads were never designed for a large empty bus of this size.
Can anyone tell me why so many Rutland residents constantly say Rutland County Council don't consult with them?
Why do Rutland County Council say they always do?
There have been letters in the local press expressing concern regarding the tourist bus along the Avenue in Exton and the changes made to the grass triangle plus the apparent lack of consultation with Exton Parish Council and thus the village.
EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE EXTON PARISH COUNCIL JUNE MEETING:
……….‘Tourist Bus, Bus stops and Turning points: RCC Highways sent a member of staff to this meeting to hear issues of concern.
Since the last meeting much communication had taken place between various members of the council and RCC Highways regarding this matter.
Exton PC had no information about this service and its impact on the Avenue until after the work had began.
The erection of a Bus shelter in the Avenue only really came to light after the Clerk had contacted Terry King and RCC the following day after the last pc meeting raising objections to any such proposals without prior consultation.
The Bus shelter was not put in place but regardless of so many voicing their concerns Villagers and councilors) about the proposed Bus turning point RCC continued to chop corners off and tarmac over this space.
Some villagers had expressed their concerns over the lack of perceived appreciation of the historic value and aesthetic beauty of the Avenue and many had contacted T King directly.
The Chair had contacted the local Police for their advice regarding safety issues with the turning point (the once triangle shaped junction) and had taken ***pictures of the bus experiencing difficulties turning, with a vehicle on the opposite side of the road having to mount the grass verge to pass.
Moreover the bus then reversed back across the road in order to attempt to turn the bus around.
Villagers have also sent photos of how since the changes to the triangle have taken place the remaining grass has repeatedly been chewed up by a very large vehicle. So it was basically three main issues which were of concern:
1. The total lack of consultation by RCC to Exton PC.
2. The Bus stop and Shelter and protection of the Avenue
3. The Safety Issues regarding the turning point for the bus.
Sally Killips from Highways firstly apologized for the lack of consultation and acknowledged that Exton PC should have been notified.
She also made it perfectly plain to council that should the Tourist Bus not be successful that RCC would guarantee that all the changes that it had undertaken in the Avenue would be removed and returned to its original condition, removing tarmac etc.
Sally was questioned about the economical issues surrounding this service and informed council that RCC had secured a grant of four million pounds (funded from central government) of which some was allocated to this service.
The money for this project was expected to last until March 2015 but it was hoped with consultation with the Bus company that it would be potentially continued until 2016. Council was also informed that it takes 56 days to alter the route and this was a factor in any potential changes in the future.
Council was asked what was its real issue of concern and whether they felt the bus should come to Exton or not and remain on the main road. The Chair made it perfectly clear that this was not really the issue being raised. The Council appreciated that the bus could not visit every attraction in the area and had NO objection to it visiting Barnsdale Gardens or even the Bakery or even Exton but that it had proposed at the very least two if not three reasonable alternative routes which it would like RCC to consider rather than using the junction in the Avenue as a turning point.
Moreover it was pointed out that many thought that this project was a worthwhile enterprise and the disabled facilities notable. But again concerns were raised about the idea put forward by RCC that people would be able to access other tourist attractions along the Avenue from the Barnsdale Gardens point. It was assumed that this would be bikers but questions concerning the movement of the disabled and pedestrians should surely be paid attention. Council also asked could it not be considered that those with Bus passes might be able to use the pass on earlier bus times to make the most of this system. Finally the council thanked Sally for attending the meeting and attempting to address some issues………..”
[…………..the photos following show recent incidents with the new tourist bus………….]
N.B. This is an ongoing issue, if you have any views regarding the situation, the bus negotiating the turn or you have had to pass with your own vehicle then please give full details in writing to the Clerk – Jo Downton, Blacksmiths Lane.
All information will be reported in future discussions with the Council and bus company and any factual evidence of problems will be very useful.
*Pictures referred to in the minutes above showing the difficulties.
The concept of this tourist bus is good, but it should not be accessing some of Rutland's finest villages.
I stood and watched the bus in Egleton, the small village roads were never designed for a large empty bus of this size.
Can anyone tell me why so many Rutland residents constantly say Rutland County Council don't consult with them?
Why do Rutland County Council say they always do?
