Yob gangs put a stop to 29 bus shelters

A total of 29 bus shelters have been removed in the West Midlands during the past three years after becoming magnets for anti-social behaviour. The figures include 12 shelters removed from towns in the Black Country.

The shelters were replaced by poles following complaints by residents being terrorised by yobs gathering and causing trouble. Then work was carried out by Centro. In 2006, stops were removed from addresses including Cherwell Drive, Walsall; and Leacroft Avenue, Wolverhampton.

Other locations included Richards Road, Tipton; Wolverhampton Road, Walsall; and Wolverhampton Road, Sandwell.

In 2007, shelters were removed from Stafford Road, Wolverhampton; Cheviot Road, Wolverhampton; Witley Avenue, Dudley; Cherwell Drive, Walsall; and Birmingham Road, Walsall.

And in 2008, shelters were taken out of Union Street in Tipton and Stourbridge Road, Dudley.

Steve Swingler, spokesman for Centro said: "Bus shelters themselves don't cause anti-social behaviour, but are victims of it.

"Centro wants to work with the community to tackle these issues.

"It is a shame that such a small minority of society are causing problems that lead to these shelters being taken away.

"If shelters have high passenger numbers, we will work with the police to try to address the problems, by increasing patrols or installing CCTV," Mr Swingler added.

Last week, plans to build a bus shelter in a busy Oldbury street were scrapped after residents complained that it would attract nuisance behaviour.

A 10ft cantilever shelter was proposed for the bus stop at the junction of Wolverhampton Road and Albert Road, opposite The Wernley pub.

Four letters and a petition were sent to Centro, in objection, saying that the shelter would become a magnet for yobs.

The transport authority has now said that it will not erect the shelter because of the concerns.

By Sally Walmsley