Council refuses to halt bus shelter demolition

A council has refused to halt the demolition of a 1950s bus shelter and told campaigners camping out there to leave the site.

The brick-built shelter in Sheringham, Norfolk, is set to be replaced because the county council says it does not meet modern accessibility standards and is unsafe.

North Norfolk MP Steff Aquarone called on councillors at a meeting on Wednesday to reconsider the imminent demolition after local people spent a second night in the structure.

In a statement, Norfolk County Council said it wanted the work to be delivered as safely and quickly as possible, adding: "We ask that those involved leave the area immediately."

When speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham earlier on Wednesday, Aquarone said he had "implored" the council to stand down and give a written public assurance that they would not carry out any works in the next few days.

"My hope is that they will pause, give it some breathing space and really engage with the community, and in particular those people who feel really passionately about this," he said.

"We can't have a third night of residents camping out because they don't trust that the shelter won't be destroyed behind their backs."

The shelter stands on Station Approach, beside the steam railway station, and features a mural of a locomotive in the poppy-covered landscape.

As well as keeping guard, campaigners have collated a petition and said they would try to secure protected status for the building, which they claimed was "the heart of Sheringham".

"The concerns raised by some local residents are fully noted and have been considered throughout the development of the project, with many suggestions being incorporated into the design," a council spokesperson said.

"Retaining the existing shelter is not a viable option and disrupting the works by entering a construction site is dangerous for all concerned.

"We want these works to be delivered as safely and quickly as possible so everyone living and working in or visiting Sheringham can benefit from this new amenity and we ask that those involved leave the area immediately."

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