Fears that bus shelter plan will attract yobs

Plans to build a bus shelter on a busy Black Country street are being challenged by residents who believe it will attract nuisance behaviour.

A 10ft cantilever shelter is proposed for the stop on the junction of Wolverhampton Road and Albert Road in Oldbury opposite The Wernley pub. But four letters and a petition have been sent to Centro, the regional transport authority, in objection, along with letters from three councillors who support them. They claim the shelter would become a magnet for yobs.

It is feared there would be an increase in noise and litter. A shelter installed on the opposite side of the carriageway was ripped out in 2006 following similar problems.

Councillor Dr Trevor Crumpton, member for Old Warley, is among those backing the residents.

"For it to go to appeal the residents need the support of all three ward councillors, which we were pleased to give," he said. "I felt there was a case to appeal. At the end of the day I feel the planned shelter is too close to the houses."

Fellow Old Warley representative Councillor John McHard added: "The area is already used by people drinking and I have personally moved bottles, cans and glass from the area.

"The proposed shelter is too close to people's homes and would adversely affect their lives, with gangs of youths congregating and larking around, which people do find intimidating.

"We have already seen these problems on the other side of the street, when the shelter was in place."

West Midlands Police said that although there have been no crimes reported at the site in the last 12 months, but confirmed that anti-social behaviour could increase as a result of the installation of a shelter.

The Highways Agency said there could also be issues over safety by obstructing the vision of people leaving their drives.

The plans will be discussed by a meeting of Centro's bus shelter appeals sub committee tomorrow.