Millions could be spent on Wiltshire bus shelter repairs

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[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

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Wiltshire Council said a survey found about half the bus shelters in the county needed repair

Millions of pounds could be used to repair and replace bus shelters in Wiltshire.

Of the 4,000 bus stops in the county, 700-800 have a Wiltshire Council-owned bus shelter. The local authority said a survey found 51% of these needed repair or maintenance.

A contract tender worth between £6m to £8m will be issued at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, with the work expected to run from February for five years, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The funding for the programme of improvements would come from current and future government grants, the council said.

Wiltshire Council cabinet member for highways, councillor Martin Smith, said the repairs would "mark an important step towards improving the county's public transport infrastructure".

"Buses play a vital role in connecting our communities, and we know how important it is to provide high-quality bus shelters that meet the needs of local people," Mr Smith said.

"Many of our bus shelters need repair or replacement, and this contract will ensure we can deliver high-quality, accessible facilities that encourage more people to use public transport," he added.