Provision and Location of Bus Stops and
Bus Shelters – Guidance
Executive Summary
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has created this guidance to set out our responsibilities and
how the Council provides or changes such facilities. It is intended for Councillors, residents,
businesses, passengers and bus companies to set out the Council’s objectives in provision of
infrastructure to support public transport, specifically buses. As an overall principle the authority
has the remit to provide such facilities and do so at the locations the Council views as the most
suitable. The Council understands that the location of these facilities can cause concerns for
some but the Council has a responsibility to provide bus stops and shelters, to promote and
develop public transport.
Background
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council intends to support public transport and has the
responsibility for the provision of and location of bus stop infrastructure. Bus operators are
generally responsible for the provision of bus service information at the individual stop. This
includes provision of a timetable and a flag showing the service numbers of the buses using that
stop.
The provision of effective roadside facilities is important in encouraging public transport use. Well
displayed timetables and good provision of shelters at suitable locations will give a positive
supporting message for the use of buses. As a result, the Council will seek to fully support and
develop the provision of appropriate bus stops. The Council understands that the location of bus
stops and shelters can cause concerns, particularly for residents in the vicinity. It is therefore
important that the Council has clear guidance about the process.
Bus Stops
A standard bus stop is usually marked by a bus stop flag and pole or sometimes, with a flag
attached to a street lighting column.
The Council has the powers to provide, place and install a bus stop at an appropriate location on
the public highway. This will, if possible, usually be on the footpath. As stated above, this is to
support the operation of public transport so it is clear where a bus will stop and to allow
information to be provided about the actual bus service.
Existing Bus Stops
Existing bus stops will remain where they are currently located. This will allow everyone to be
fully aware where a stop is situated. Requests to change the location of existing stops will not be
considered unless there are exceptional circumstances. These could include the following:
A highways / road safety scheme, where the existing location of the stop is required to be
changed as part of the scheme.
When the bus company requests the location of the stop be changed for operational or road
safety reasons.
Where passengers make representations that an alternative location will improve the way the stop operates
and/or improve the bus stop environment.
Where through a major project such as Tees Valley Bus Network Improvement, a strategic approach to the
re-location of a number of stops is required.
Other exceptional circumstances that the Council consider appropriate.
New or Re-located Stops.
There is no statutory requirement for the council to consult on the location of bus stops which the Council can
place on the public highway.
It is however good practice to make residents and/or businesses / other organisations (if relevant) aware of
any intentions to provide a bus stop and provide an opportunity to respond / make comments if they see fit.
Accordingly, the Council writes to the property / properties in the immediate vicinity of where a bus stop is
proposed to be placed advising them of the details. The letter will be addressed to ‘The Householder’ and
there will be at least a three week period to make comments / representations on the proposal/s.
The Council will not routinely inform properties on the opposite side of the road or properties in a wider area.
Where the proposed stop is immediately in-front of a flat/apartment block the council will not be able inform all
residents individually. In such cases a notice will be placed in a suitable location as near as possible to the
proposed bus stop. The relevant ward councillors will also be informed.
Following any comments / representations the Council engineers will make a recommendation and refer it to
the ward Councillors. The Council understands that residents can be very concerned at proposals to site new
bus stops. In making a decision the Council has to be minded that, it considers that the bus stop needs to go
somewhere and providing representations are carefully considered then stops will inevitably still be placed in
locations to which objections have been received.
Location of New or Re-located Stops.
Before writing to the occupiers of properties in the immediate vicinity, the Council will liaise with the bus
company / companies and Tees Valley Unlimited to establish the most suitable location according to their
operational requirements. Where appropriate, road safety auditors, experts and highway engineers will also
be involved / consulted.
Wherever possible the Council will seek to locate poles at the back of the footway and on the least intrusive
sites e.g. between properties or away from living areas.
Configuration of Stops and Parking.
The reliability of bus services and effective passenger access is dependant on proper access being available
for the bus at each stop. Bus stops will need to be free of roadside parking to allow this. A ‘Bus Stop
Clearway’ will need to be marked out, wherever possible. This is a section of the highway marked out as a
bus stop with yellow border markings. At certain locations where parking contraventions at bus stops are
prevalent, then the clearway can be marked with coloured surfacing, usually a red/orange colour. The
introduction of bus stop clearways does not require consultation. The Council will provide this facility at bus
stops where it is considered applicable. Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council will mark out bus stop
clearways of a minimum 27 metres in length. Guidance indicates that they potentially can be as long as 35
metres.
Requests to Remove Bus Stops
The Council from time to time receives requests to remove bus stops completely. Consideration will only be
given to remove a stop completely if requested by the bus operators or if there is a justified reason to do so.
In such cases an alternative location for a stop suitable for both passengers and the operational requirements
of the bus companies will need to be resolved in accordance with this guidance.
Provision of Bus Shelters
Passenger waiting facilities are an important amenity- to encourage public transport use. They allow
enhanced information to be provided including Real Time Passenger Information displays (RTI), which are
most effective when provided within shelters. It is understood that a shelter is a significant structure that can
be placed on the highway. Like a bus stop this can cause concerns for local residents and businesses. The
responsibility for the location and other arrangements for shelter provision rests with the Council. Currently
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has a contract with a shelter supplier, new or replacement shelters
provided will be selected from the shelters specified in the contract.
The following general principles will apply.
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The location of a shelter is also the bus stop so all of the aspects of this policy that relate to a bus stop
also apply to a shelter.
A bus shelter will require planning permission if it provides an illuminated advertisement.
Any planning permission required will be determined by the Council’s Planning section as relevant to
current planning provisions and will be sought prior to an advertising panel being fitted.
Procedure to Provide a New Shelter.
Requests for new bus shelters usually come from bus passengers or the bus companies. It is not practical or
financially possible to place a shelter at every bus stop so the Council need to prioritise locations. When we
receive a request the Council will ask the relevant bus operator and Tees Valley Unlimited if they consider the
stop is busy enough to warrant a shelter. If the operator considers it is, then the site will be visited to check
the practicalities of placing a shelter, e.g. there needs to be a sufficient width of footpath to accommodate a
shelter and allow pedestrians to pass.
A shelter is a more substantial structure than a bus stop pole so the council will inform nearby residential
properties and businesses as the Council considers appropriate - that we have a request to provide a shelter.
The process for evaluation and any decision will be on the same basis as for a bus stop.
Location of New and Re-located Shelters.
From time to time the Council will take action to improve bus stops and, some shelters will be upgraded and
improved. These changes in most cases will result in minor movement of a shelter, a new roof, or a change in
shelter type or configuration. In such cases, providing the shelter is in the same vicinity, we will not consult /
inform on the changes. Where there is a significant change in location, The Council will inform the occupiers
of those residents / businesses who are in the immediate vicinity and invite comments.
Review
This guidance will be subject to revision as the Council considers necessary from time to time.
Dated
November 2014