Stone’s digital bus timetable screen plans ‘stupid’

A council’s bid to install bus time information screens in a Stone town centre’s pedestrian area has been branded “stupid” by community leaders.

Staffordshire County Council is seeking consent to install two digital displays in Stone High Street, which will display public transport information and adverts.

But Stone Town Council has objected to the siting of the two structures – one outside B&M and the other near the Bod cafe and bar, describing them as inappropriate in the conservation area and out of keeping. There are also concerns that extra street furniture will cause difficulty for wheelchair users and people with visual impairments.

Councillor Jonathan Powell said the plans were “stupid, just stupid.” He added: “They will be showing passenger transport information nowhere near where you catch a bus or train – it’s ludicrous.”

Councillor Andrew Best said: “They will get kicked in the first time they are there”, with Councillor Jim Davies adding: “They’re awful”.

Councillor Philip Leason has called in the applications for consideration by the planning committee on the grounds they are “out of keeping with street scene and in a conservation area.” And the proposals have also met with objections from residents.

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A resident of The Avenue said:

“This is a conservation area with strict rules for businesses. These advertising boards will degrade the High Street and cause unnecessary obstruction for pedestrians.

“If they are to be of any use they need to be put by the bus stops in town – what is the point of putting real time bus information in a pedestrianised area? This is just a money making exercise for the county council to gain advertising revenue, using bus time information as an excuse.”

A Mercer Avenue resident said:

“This would be totally inappropriate in the High Street of a small town like Stone. It would make the town less attractive for tourists, it would also encourage vandalism.

“Advertising in this form in public spaces is appropriate only in large towns or cities. This would be wasting money that could be used on ways to make the High Street more attractive, not less attractive.”

Another objector said:

“As the manager of Stone Farmers’ Market, I strongly object to sighting of the advertising totem outside Bod. This is where one of our long standing traders has her pitch.

“This trader has already had to move pitches once due to the change of use of the former Barclays Bank. It is unfair to expect her to move again, especially as the pitches are fully allocated and I have nowhere to move her to.”

One Stone resident wrote in support of the signs, however, describing them as a “good communication tool.” And a supporting statement submitted as part of the application said the signs were part of work to boost transport infrastructure in the county in line with the Staffordshire Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

It added:

“The primary reason for installing the totems is to provide RTPI (real time passenger information), this provides up to date information to passengers about arrival and departure times of their buses, significantly enhancing their journeys by giving them more accurate information about bus services. It is much more accurate than a paper timetable as delays can be reported on a minute by minute basis; paper timetabling simply is no longer fit for purpose in an area which services a significant number of routes.

“The displays are much more readable for passengers, allowing them to observe social distancing measures whilst checking bus times. Although some users may make use of mobile apps as a more sophisticated way of monitoring arrival times this disadvantages certain sectors of society who may not have access to such technology.

“We understand the need to preserve the character of the town and are committed to this. The design and finish of the totem has been carefully selected to minimise any harmful impact to the character of the area and, as far as possible, blend with the environment.”