'The elderly are struggling without bus shelters'

John O'Donnell says passengers have been getting rained on while waiting for the bus

A bus user says elderly passengers are struggling with "nowhere to go" in poor weather as bus shelters removed more than a year ago have still not been replaced.

The shelters on Cheltenham Road in Longlevens, Gloucester, including at stops near the University of Gloucestershire's Oxstalls campus and the Esso petrol station, were taken out in 2024 during work to install a cycle lane.

"Wheelchair users and mothers with babies, if it's raining they just can't stand there, it's not feasible," passenger John O'Donnell said.

Gloucestershire County Council apologised for the inconvenience and said it was working with its supplier to replace the shelters as soon as possible.

The shelters were removed from bus stops on Cheltenham Road

Mr O'Donnell said: "Younger people go to the petrol station and they shelter under the canopy and hope they can make it back when the bus stops. [Elderly people] have got nowhere to go really.

"Even if it's not raining they would just like to sit down. The winter's coming on and it's pretty grim.

"One lady said the other day, 'I wish now that I'd brought my car'."

He added that it was not encouraging people to use public transport.

Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainable transport and strategic highways at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "We will be replacing all bus shelters that have been temporarily removed in the Longlevens area of Gloucester for work on the Cycle Spine and apologise for any inconvenience currently caused."

He said the shelters would be reinstated "as soon as possible".

"The Gloucestershire Cycle Spine is part of our commitment to making it safer and easier for people to choose walking, wheeling and cycling as part of everyday journeys," added Mr Whyborn.