A FAILURE by both town and unitary councillors in Minehead to provide shelter on the sea front in the town for waiting bus passengers has been branded ‘unacceptable’.

Bus campaigner Linda Sparks has been pushing for three years for a shelter to be built at the stop outside the West Somerset Railway Station.

But, although the town council had tens of thousands of pounds of funds available from housing developers, councillors have refused to spend it.

And despite Somerset Council being given nearly £25 million by the Government for bus service improvements over three years, it has also failed to act.

The unitary authority told Ms Sparks six months ago it was looking at what could be done.

But, Ms Sparks said: “We are now in October and I have heard nothing back from them.

“How long does it take for somebody to make a decision?”

Ms Sparks launched her campaign after stepping in to help an elderly passenger who was struggling to stand in inclement weather while waiting for the next bus to arrive.

She said: “During the winter the wind and rain sweep across the road from the sea and there is no shelter for people waiting at the bus stop.

“Then, in the summer months with temperatures in the 30s there is no shade, or even a seat to rest on, it is open to the heat.

“How many people have suffered in the three winters that have passed since I asked the councillors to put in a shelter, and now we have another winter nearly here.

“It is completely unacceptable.

“There is no excuse for it.

“All the councillors are aware because I have been to the town council meetings and told them about it and I have told the Somerset portfolio holder and transport officer as well.

“They have talked about it being difficult to do because it is a conservation area, but there is an ice cream kiosk right next to the bus stop, how much value does that add to the heritage of the area I wonder?”

Ms Sparks has separately secured private funding to cover the cost of installing a seat at the bus stop for passengers to be able to sit down while waiting, once a shelter has been installed.

She said: “The money is there, and it does not even need to cost the council taxpayer a penny.

“But, they just will not spend it on the things we need in the town, especially for those who are elderly and frail.

“They should be caring for our community’s elderly, disabled, young people, and workers, this is so unacceptable to the community.”

The town council last winter replaced three ageing bus shelters in Minehead, in Bircham Road, opposite Brook Street, on the Bancks Street junction with The Parade, and outside The Avenue cinema.

It met the project’s upfront cost of £17,500 before being refunded by the unitary council from the Government grant it had received.