A municipal district meeting of councillors in Sligo has heard that the need for bus shelters is now an issue in towns and villages throughout the county.
In the past year, there have been numerous calls for bus shelters, both for school children and for adults in built up areas and on the side of some rural roads.
At yesterday’s meeting of councillors from the Ballymote/Tubbercurry/West Sligo Municipal District, there were motions from two councillors calling for three bus shelters be provided at different locations.
It was just the latest in what has been numerous calls for new bus shlters.
Fine Gael Councillor Gerard Mullaney asked that a bus shelter be provided at O Connell Street in Ballymote.
He pointed out that there is a new transport service that goes three times a day from Ballaghaderreen to Sligo and there is therefore a demand for the bus shelter.
He was supported by Fine Gael councillors Dara Mulvey . . . and by Martin Connolly who called for two bus shelters on the N17 in Curry Village.
Some councillors are suggesting erecting what seemed like less-expensive bus shelters that can be seen in the north of Ireland.
Senior Executive Engineer Paddy Hughes told the meeting there had been a lot of motions seeking bus shelters.
He said the National Transport Authority are responsible for providing the funding.
He added that there is a criteria for prioritising where bus shelters are to be provided, and Sligo town also had to be included.
“There is limited funding and we haven’t been getting much of it. The demand exceeds the money available,” he told councillors.
Cllr Mullaney suggested that local businesses might make a contribution toward the cost and then advertise on the bus shelters.
Director of Services Tom Kilfeather said what the National Transport Authority provides is the bespoke, the Rolls Royce models of bus shelters.
He said he wouldn’t put up the shelters they had in the north.
He felt that, instead, they should try and maximise the money they might get from the NTA.
But Cllr Connolly says the lack of bus shelters is now an issue in many areas.
