Dear Residents and Stakeholders
This is the update received from Suffolk County Council regarding the bus stop at the end of Gracechurch Street:
"Routes are changing due to issues north of Debenham which have meant First have been unable to keep the route operating to the timetable. These changes should now make this possible and also mean all 116 trips follow the same route around Debenham rather than at present where there are two variations. The sites were chosen by First but agreed by officers within the Passenger Transport team.
This site was chosen for a number of reasons:
• The double yellow lines means there should not be anyone else stopped there. Stopping to load and unload passengers is allowed but not longer-term parking.
• No need to remove any on-street parking or block driveways such as exist outside the properties further along the street.
• Proximity to the path along High Street to the Co-Op and other shops, with no need to crossroads to reach this.
• Presence of a lamp column on which the flag can be mounted without the need (and expense) to install a new pole.
Both the bus company and ourselves believe this to be as safe a location as could be found in the general area. From September all journeys on 116 will be coming down Gracechurch Street and turning right. First feel that there will be people wanting to board and alight at this corner, and without the new stop the nearest would-be up Gracechurch Street by Henniker Road or by the Resource Centre, both quite a walk with heavy shopping.
As we are outside London, fixed bus stops are not actually required, with the drivers being able to stop wherever they feel safe to do so. We tend to put them into focus on known or predicted destinations, to reduce the number of stops a service has to make, to enable construction of suitable infrastructure such as bus stop flags or shelters, and to ensure buses stop at the safest points available. There will always be compromises based on the historic road layout we have to work within.
Suffolk County Council will, of course, monitor use of the stop to see if it is as popular as predicted and can remove it again should it prove to be a genuine hazard".