Parents ‘ living in fear’ of bus drivers
Stagecoach staff are accused
A petition has been launched following claims that children’s lives are being put in danger by buses “thundering” along a residential area in Ayr.
Neighbours living in Green Street, close to Stagecoach Buses’ depot, insist that the firm have made their lives a misery after they changed their route.
The route, which was originally via Peebles Street onto Waggon Road, is now going through Green Street on to Waggon Road.
The campaign said “The residents of Green Street have been able to let their children, grandchildren, and great- grand children out on the street after business hours for years without any concerns of danger to them.
“That has all changed now. They are scared to let children out to play in the fear of a bus come thundering along the road.
“We beg you to help us in our fight to have Stagecoach rethink their route again into the depot in Waggon Road.”
Resident Janet Walters previously told the Ayrshire Post that the buses are causing homes to “shake like an earthquake” at all hours of the day.
The 52- year- old said: “The buses used to come down Peebles Street but claim they can’t get turned now due to parked cars. So they’re coming our way and Stagecoach didn’t even see fit to let us know. We have X77 buses thundering along at all times of day and night and the house shakes like an earthquake.
“The speed of them is a disgrace and the drivers are taking no notice of where they are.”
A Stagecoach spokesman said: “Prior to the recent introduction of the upgraded, 15m- long high quality coaches for our X77 service, which operate from our depot on Waggon Road, a risk assessment was completed which highlighted that due to the parking of some vehicles by residents on Waggon Road, access to our depot was difficult at certain times for our vehicles due to the need to make a right- hand turn into the depot.
“Green Street offers an almost straight ahead manoeuvre for our vehicles into the depot which minimises the risk for our drivers, vehicles, local residents and all other road users.
“We monitor our vehicles at all times and following concerns raised by a small number of residents on Green Street additional checks have been carried out.
“We are satisfied that this route is in fact a more appropriate and safer route for all concerned and we will continue to monitor this in line with our policies.”