NEWS that two long-awaited bus shelters were about to be installed for residents of the Cades Farm and Longforth Farm housing estates has been welcomed by Wellington town councillor John Thorne.

He has been campaigning for the missing bus shelters to be fitted ever since he was elected to the town council last spring.

Now he has been told the work on the shelters was due to have started yesterday (Tuesday) or today, after the final administrative hurdle was overcome.

Cllr Thorne said: “I have lost count of the number of times I have driven past and seen people waiting for a bus in pouring rain and stormy winds, often with young children and pushchairs with them.

“I have a daughter and grandchildren who live at Cades Farm, so I also have first-hand reports of just how unpleasant the wait for a bus can be.

“While I am delighted that these two bus shelters are finally being put up, I have to say it is a huge disappointment that residents have had to wait years longer than necessary for it to happen.

“It has been a bureaucratic nightmare and even with my constant prompting behind the scenes, it would not have happened without the support and hard work of our excellent staff at the town council.

“If it was needed, it is another example of where the town council can actually get things done for Wellington if we are allowed to take on more responsibility ourselves.”

The £10,000 cost of the bus shelters has been funded with what is known as ‘Section 106’ monies, sums which a housing estate developer provides to help improve services in the locality.

Cllr Thorne said: “The initial problem was that nobody from the Deane council had asked the developer for the money and so it was not paid.

“Then, when I pointed this out and the money was handed over, there was all sorts of red tape to be overcome, such as highways authority permission for the exact positioning of the shelters on the pavements.

“But now it is finally happening and I hope local people can now take advantage of the protection from the elements which the shelters should provide.”