Work to improve safety on bus route

Buy photos » Coun Rebecca Blake, First controller Malcolm Egan, operations manager Phil Haines and Con Paul Downes take a look around the bus route. Photo by Marcus Mingins 3512012MMR

WORK has begun on a town bus route in a bid to improve safety for travellers.

Landscaping work is being carried out along the 57 and 58 route, in a bid to prevent problems with anti-social behaviour, particularly at night.

As first reported by the Standard, evening bus services were reintroduced by First in July after passengers were left stranded in the borough when Diamond decided to cut its service in January, after a spate of stone throwing attacks.

It is hoped by cutting back more than 150 trees, improving street lighting and pruning hedges, pedestrians and drivers will have better visibility and crime will drop.

The work, which has already begun on the stretch of Church Hill Way running into Easemore Road, comes after Coun Rebecca Blake, responsible for community safety on Redditch Borough Council, met with police, First bus operators and community experts to inspect the route and discuss changes.

"Clearing and opening up the space along the route will make it safer and more welcoming for everyone including those who rely on the bus and for pedestrians and cyclists," she said.

Sgt Neil Billingham, from Redditch police, added: "Opening up overgrown areas and increasing visibility makes it more difficult for offenders to operate and provides added reassurance to visitors and residents."

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