New £6,000 bus stop installed in Maltby - on road with no bus route

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) replaced an old pole in Maltby with a covered stand and seats.

But changes made to timetables earlier this year meant services no longer call at the stop on Tickhill Road, Maltby.

The blunder was spotted by resident James Rodgers (pictured), who said: “How thoughtful of SYPTE to have provided a place to sit and wait for no bus!

“I feel the money could have been better spent on installing a bus shelter somewhere else. 

“For example, buses use Hamilton Road but there’s no stop. If the new shelter had been put there it could have served Home Bargains.”

James (39), of Maltby, obtained the amount spent on the redundant stop using freedom of information laws.

The SYPTE response revealed that the shelter and seats cost £4,482 and installation was a further £1,452 — making a total of £5,934.

James said: “I had noticed that the stop was no longer served by buses and had a notice on the pole to say it was no longer in use.

“Then, to my surprise, I found the pole was gone and had been replaced by a brand new shelter complete with seats.

“This almost-£6,000 blunder now carries the notice: ‘Please note that this bus stop is no longer in use.’”

And he added: “There is also a further blunder on the stop in the spelling of Hamilton Road as it has been incorrectly spelled with the letter L missing.

“It’s another example of where SYPTE doesn’t have knowledge of the local area.”

A spokeswoman for SYPTE said: “Part of the planning approval for the new Home Bargains store cited improvements to the stop on Tickhill Road. 

“Buses used the stop when we agreed the installation of a shelter and it was paid for by the property developer.

“Unfortunately, bus companies made service changes in March that mean the stop is no longer served, so the shelter isn’t used. 

“We are seeking permission to move the shelter to Hamilton Road, where it will benefit residents and those shopping at the store.”

She added: “We are also reviewing our installation processes to prevent this, where possible, from happening again.”