Bus Stops Alterations Planning Statement

Statement to support the Planning Application for the alterations to the bus stops at The Parade, Castletown

Introduction

The section of The Parade for which this application applies is shown outlined in Red on the Planning Drawings Ref P001/P002. It is proposed that the paving materials to be used for each bus stop build-out will match the existing materials.

Background

Market Square was recently reconstructed as part of Castletown Regeneration. The planning approval also included improvements to The Parade but the work was not undertaken due to budget constraints. The layout included alterations to the bus stops but not the same design as the latest proposals. As The Parade is within a Conservation Area the revised bus stop layouts require planning approval.

Current layout

Northbound - currently the bus pulls in towards the footway outside Nos 5-7 The Parade. The shape of the kerb-line makes it difficult for the bus to pull in to the kerbside. Also if it were to pull in parallel to the kerb, the rear of the bus would come into contact with the bus shelter when swinging back out into traffic. The bus shelter cannot be relocated without compromising the width of the footway. {{image:226293}}

Southbound - currently the bus stop is located out in the highway, approximately 5 m out from the footway, and nearly 15 m from the shelter. There is a row of 'end-on' parking between the footway and the bus stop. Passengers alighting the bus have to step down onto the highway which is particularly difficult for less mobile elderly passengers, small children, prams and wheelchair users. Passengers have to walk between parked vehicles to get to or from the bus to the footway. Those using wheelchairs or prams have to travel along the road to get to and from the bus because there is not enough space between parked vehicles.

Proposals

Northbound - it is proposed to construct a build-out and realign the kerbs using the granite and Tegula paving materials to match the existing. It will include bus docking kerbs to allow the bus to pull up accurately and parallel with the kerb without coming into contact with the bus shelter.

Southbound - it is proposed to remove one of the on-street parking spaces to allow for the extension of the footway out into the highway (beyond the parked vehicles) using similar granite kerbs and Tegula blocks to match the existing footway. It will include bus docking kerbs so that the bus will always pull up accurately at the kerb. The existing bus shelter will be relocated onto the new footway build-out.

Signed Jim Davidson, Project Coordinator Date: 14 November 2018

Additional information for planning Application for alterations to bus stops at The Parade, Castletown

$1801204$ The southbound bus stop will be situated on an extension to the existing footway utilising an existing parking bay which will be removed. The kerbs height will match the existing kerb heights ranging from 80 mm at the existing kerbs to 160 mm at the bus docking kerbs.