new didcot town council bus shelter€¦ · new town council bus shelter 9 - 1 environment...

Council Offices, Britwell Road Didcot OX11 7HN

Phone: 01235 812637 www.didcot.gov.uk

E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 01235 512837

Agenda item 9 New Town Council bus shelter

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Environment Committee 4

th September 2017

Report author: Tom Hudson

New Didcot Town Council Bus Shelter Introduction

1. This report asks the Committee to consider whether it wishes to erect a new bus

shelter, and if so to choose a suitable site, type and supplier.

Recommendation

2. The Committee should consider the report and decide whether to erect one new

bus shelter, and if so, which supplier to use, where to situate the shelter and the

colouring.

3. If necessary, to consider whether to include within its 2018/19 budget proposal

i) a ring-fenced budget to act as a sinking fund to cover ongoing renewals

and repairs of £185 per annum

ii) an annual cleaning and maintenance budget of £280

Background

4. The Town Council’s Environment Committee considered a report in September

2016 looking at the indicative costs of erecting bus shelters on the Ladygrove

Estate in response to a request from a local resident.

5. The decision of the Environment Committee was to seek a bus shelter budget for

the financial year 2017/18. This budget line was approved and the Environment

Committee now has £5000 in 325-9059 (Bus Shelters). Appendix 2 to this report

shows that the budget provided will permit the Council to erect one bus shelter in

this financial year.

Didcot Town Council

mailto:[email protected]





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6. More recently the Town Council has been contacted by residents regarding the

placement of bus shelters on the Ladygrove estate, and also replacing the

existing shelter on Wantage Road outside the hospital going towards town with

one offering greater protection from the wind.1 The Deputy Town Clerk has

focused suggestions for sites on these areas in response to public demand. A

map of the sites visited is included as Appendix 1.

7. The buses that run on the relevant routes are the 91, Didcot circular, the X2 bus

to Oxford, and the BB2 school bus. With minor variances, the 91 and X2 run

approximately every hour. The BB2 school bus only stops at the relevant stop

once per day in the morning.

8. It is not possible to know for sure the long-term plans for any of the bus routes

above. However, Oxfordshire County Council has stopped subsidising bus

services. Bus companies may stop providing their service with three months’

notice.

9. Usage figures and blue badge usage are considered to be commercially sensitive

information and have not been disclosed.

10. Site visits have been undertaken by the Deputy Town Clerk and Oxfordshire

County Council’s Highways Officer to determine suitability. Following site visits

two potential stops were deemed unsuitable, the stop at lower Broadway just

after Aldi and before the bridge, and the stop at Trent Road and Arndale Beck.

The former was too narrow to put in a shelter without blocking the footway, and

the land behind it was sloping meaning extensive cost in creating hard-standing

to overcome the issue of narrowing the pavement beyond minimum limits.

Furthermore, the land onto which the extension of the pavement would have to

be built is not owned by Didcot Town Council or Oxfordshire County Council. The

latter stop, Arndale Beck, was not considered because it was advised that the

presence of so many trees would likely lead to greater maintenance issues.

11. However, the following sites are possible locations:

a. Broadway (outside Marsh Rec)

b. Trent Road/Torridge Drive

c. Ladygrove Shops

d. Ladygrove Primary School

e. Avon Way/Brunstock Beck

1 The Deputy Town Clerk has investigated simply being able to add panels to the existing shelter, but

it is no longer made meaning to upgrade it would require a completely new shelter. For further information, the Committee should be aware that following a request from Didcot Access Group £5000 was previously spent on moving this shelter 2m further back from the kerb.






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f. Avon Way/Dagdale Drive

12. Three companies have been contacted for quotations. The Town Council’s

existing bus shelter contractor did not submit a quote. Due to the contractual

requirement that the Wantage Road bus shelter be provided by our existing

supplier, this has meant that it is not being considered as part of this process.

13. Of the two companies to submit quotes, both are regularly used by Oxfordshire

County Council and come recommended by the Infrastructure Officer. Company

A has undertaken a site visit. Company B has quoted remotely, not undertaking a

site visit.

14. The exact nature of the shelter is dependent on site requirements, the information

on which is detailed in Appendix 2. Indicative images of the shelters and technical

specifications are included as Appendix 3.

15. Shelters can be powder-coated to a colour chosen by the Town Council.

16. Glass paneling is available instead of the suggested polycarbonate. The benefits

of polycarbonate are its damage resistance compared to glass, and slight cost

advantage. Its downside is that it does start to become opaque after a decade.

17. Two companies have been contacted to see whether they would be interested in

using the bus stops for advertising and have decided that they would not be

economically viable.

18. The Committee will note in Appendix 2 the need to undertake foliage removal at

certain stops. It should be noted that this foliage comes from private residences.

The County Council would have the right to remove overhanging foliage, but the

Committee may wish to consider the impact on those homeowners when

deciding between sites.

Legal Implications

19. Standing Order 100 a) provides the Environment Committee the authority to

administer the Town Council Environment budget.

20. Financial Regulation 61 b) i) states that for contracts less than £5500 the Outdoor

Services Manager shall have executive power.

21. All contractual duties with Didcot Town Council’s existing bus shelter provider

have been complied with, but the details of those are not explained here.

22. The legal ownership of all proposed sites is Oxfordshire County Council, who

have given verbal assent to erection of a bus shelter, but written confirmation

would have to be received prior to work being undertaken.

23. There is no requirement for planning permission to erect a bus shelter, only for

the addition of advertising hoardings.






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Financial Implications

23. As set out in the report and appendices.

24. An indicative cost for quarterly cleaning would be £70 per visit.

25. The cost of replacing a panel of damaged Perspex is £185, with a £62 surcharge

for dealing with same-day emergencies.

Risk Implications

26. Town Council officers would ensure that all professionals are suitably qualified

and insured for the work they are undertaking prior to any contract being agreed.

27. Town Council officers must see the contractor’s CAT scan to ensure suitability

regarding sewerage, gas mains, electric cabling and other subterranean utilities.

28. Any new bus shelter would have to be added to the Town Council asset register

and insured. The indicative cost quoted by our insurers for the necessary

insurance is £10 per annum.

29. A regular inspection and maintenance schedule would be required to prevent a

negligence claim arising in the event of an accident involving the bus shelter.


Bus Shelter Report Appendices

Appendix 1

Location of considered and rejected bus shelter sites

Red pins are sites that were rejected

Blue pins are sites under consideration

Appendix 2

Site Locations and Requirements

1. Marsh Rec/Broadway

Bus services X2 BB2

Shelter recommended 2 bay cantilever with half end panels and polycarbonate panelling

Civils required Hardstand of 3.2 x 0.8m with small flag on traffic sign

Costs Shelter Civils Seat Bespoke Flag Timetable case Installation Total

Company A £3442.52 £760 (Included) £59.20 £85.25 £500 £4846.98

Company B £2891.30 £729.60 £314.38 £69.00 £69.88 £698.75 £4772.91

Other comments None

Appendix 2

2. Trent Rd/Torridge Drive

Bus services 91

Shelter recommended

2 bay cantilever with half end panels and polycarbonate panelling

Civils required Block pavers would need to be levelled prior to shelter install. Until pavers are lifted it would be hard to know the exact costs.

Costs Shelter Civils Seat OCC Flag Timetable case Installation Total

Company A £3442.52 £800 (may be subject to change) Included £67.20 £85.25 £500.00 £4894.97

Company B £2891.30 £800 (may be subject to change) £314.38 £69.00 £69.88 £698.75 £4774.31

Other comments This stop has been identified by a regular user of the bus as the most used by the elderly and disabled on the 91 route

Appendix 2

3. Ladygrove Shops

Bus services 91

Shelter recommended

2 bay cantilever with half end panels and polycarbonate panelling

Civils required This requires significant hardstanding; a total of 12 sq m.


Company A £3442.52 £0 (subject to OCC funding) Included £67.20 £85.25 £500.00 £4094.97

Company B £2891.30 £0 (subject to OCC funding) £314.38 £69.00 £69.88 £698.75 £4043.31

Other comments Oxfordshire County Council have agreed in principle that if this shelter is erected, they will cover the civils required on the basis of their Equality Duty.

Appendix 2

4. Ladygrove Primary School

Bus services 91

Shelter recommended

Thin profile 2 bay cantilever with no end panels and polycarbonate panelling

Civils required Foliage removal and disposal


Company A £3051.07 £27.85 Included £67.20 £85.25 £500.00 £3731.37

Company B £2518.88 £0 (not quoted for) £314.38 £69.00 £69.88 £698.75 £3670.89

Other comments

Appendix 2

5. Avon Way/Brunstock Beck

Bus services 91

Shelter recommended


Civils required Foliage removal and disposal



Company B £2518.88 £0 (not quoted for) £314.38 £69.00 £69.88 £698.75 £3670.89

Other comments

Appendix 2

6. Avon Way/Dagdale Drive

Bus services 91

Shelter recommended


Civils required Hardstand of 3.2 x 0.8m



Company B £2518.88 £729.60 £314.38 £69.00 £69.88 £698.75 £4400.49

Other comments

Appendix 3

Shelter images and technical specifications

Company A

- Two bay cantilever with no ends. Seats are included.

- Two bay cantilever with half ends. Seats are included.

Technical specifications

- 2.1 m x 1.3m with elliptical roof

- Roof constructed from high grade 80 x 40 mm extruded aluminium section and

glazed in 4.0mm THK UV stable polycarbonate

- Main frame constructed from high grade 80 x 50 mm extruded aluminium section with

a polyester powder coated finish

- Glazing 4.0mm THK Polycarbonate

- Bus shelter to be dug into the ground with 300mm cubed footings

- Bench seat included

Appendix 3

Company B

- Picture is of a 3-bay cantilever. The quote under consideration is for a 2-bay, which

will be shorter.

Technical Specifications

- 2.1 m x 1.3m with elliptical roof

- Aluminium constructed frame

- Glazing 4.0mm THK Polycarbonate

- Bus shelter to be dug into the ground with 300mm cubed footings

- Perch seats

- Choice of colour

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