LOCAL shopkeepers were fully consulted about a bus stop they are now complaining aout, the county council has insisted.

An earlier Review story recounted how shopkeepers in the How Wood area of Park Street are unhappy with a new bus stop which obstructs customers, preventing them parking.

County council spokeswoman Michelle De La Bertouche said: "The parish council led on this scheme, which was carried out in association with our passenger transport unit.

"Local people, including businesses, were consulted before the scheme went ahead and given the chance to voice objections.

"A number of other locations were considered, and the present site was judged to be the most viable - it would also have been through a formal safety audit as a matter of course.

"There is a general policy within the county for buses to stop on the carriageway rather than in laybys - to help buses operate efficiently and to fulfil access requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act.

"The bus needs to be able to get close enough to 'kneel' right against the kerb, which is not always possible in a lay-by.

"This change of layout enables the bus to get close enough to the kerb to do this.

"There had been problems with cars parking in the bus lay-by, which made if difficult for the bus to pull in - there were also problems with inconsiderate drivers not giving way to the bus when it was trying to exit the layby, causing delays for passengers.

"It should be borne in mind that this service runs one bus an hour, so other road users are not going to experience delays all the time.

"Drivers are now able to park in the layby without obstructing buses and there are spaces near the shops, which are due to be white-lined shortly.

"There has been no actual loss of parking for the shops.

The Highways Area Manager has spoken to local traders about this issue and none of them expressed any concerns at the time."