IN recent weeks residents of Launceston may have noticed that works are being carried out to upgrade the local bus stops — but one member of the public has raised concerns that the bus stop sited near the Link Road and Landlake Road junction is dangerous.

The upgrades are part of the Cornwall Council ‘One Public Transport System for Cornwall’ project and as a result several of the existing bus stops in the town now have their own shelter and a digital real time passenger information (RTPI) display.

However, a member of the public contacted the Post to raise their concerns.

They said: “I don’t know how much has been spent on these new bus stops but they have put one on the Link Road junction up to the hospital. Highways states you do not park anything by a junction — so why is it safe for the bus to stop there?

“One wonders what thinking has gone into it or, as has been proven in the past, are our civil servants some what blinkered?

“You often hear them say ‘we haven’t got enough money’, so I ask, where has the money for this come from?”

To quell concerns Cornwall Councillor for Launceston South Jade Farrington (Lib Dem) has assured all works are subject to safety review and the existing stops have been deemed appropriate.

Cllr Farrington said: “As part of Cornwall Council’s One Public Transport System for Cornwall project, which is funded through the Growth Deal, several existing bus stops are getting new shelters. This includes digital real time passenger information (RTPI) displays which tell people exactly when their bus will arrive.

“The existing bus stop on the Link Road has been upgraded with a new bus shelter so those waiting aren’t exposed to the wind and rain. The shelter has been installed at the back of the footway so it doesn’t effect visibility for drivers. All works are subject to a safety review by qualified safety auditors who concluded there was no problem installing a bus shelter at the existing stop.”

She added: “I welcome the investment in Launceston and I’m sure the new digital signage will prove helpful for bus users.”

The full list of improvements is as follows: Link Road/Landlake Road junction — new shelter and digital RTPI display; Stourscombe — digital RTPI display; Pennygillam roundabout — digital RTPI display; Broad Park — digital RTPI display; Hurdon Road, Lidl (two bus stops) — digital RTPI displays; Westgate Street, East — digital RTPI display; Westgate Street, West — new shelter and digital RTPI display within coach park area; Tavistock Road, Tesco — digital RTPI display.