Weymouth: Lanehouse Rocks Road bus shelter erected

The bus shelter was recently put up on Lanehouse Rocks Road, just outside Wessex Pharmacy and opposite the new development of houses.

However, the confusion stems from the fact that there hasn’t been a bus service running there since June 2023.

Dorset council have since revealed that this bus shelter was funded by Betterment Properties as part of their recent development at Lanehouse Rocks Road.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said: “It is a Clear Channel asset, so future maintenance obligations will remain with them. There is a school bus service operating on this road so the shelter can be used by students.

“The public will also be able to use the shelter if a bus service is reintroduced on this route in the future.”

On the original proposed site plan drawing submitted on behalf of Betterment Properties as part of the planning application, a bus shelter outside of the pharmacy was included.

At this time, there was still a bus service running in the area.

Dorset and Weymouth Town Councillor Gill Taylor who represents the Westham ward said: "We are trying to get the number six bus back and I have been doing a lot of conversing with Dorset Council.

"It is so desperately needed, there are so many people that really relied on it and now they have nearly a mile to walk to Chickerell Road to get a bus, it's crazy.

"It's the older people who have to pay about £8 to get a taxi into town."

Cushions left as a joke about the lack of bus service (Image: Cllr Gill Taylor)

Cllr Taylor is also part of the Liberal Democrat initiative which has seen cushions placed on the bench of the new bus shelter as a joke about the lack of bus service as a message reads 'Want more buses...Here's something from us to cushion your (long) wait.'

Additionally, last year, as part of the development, two new pedestrian crossings were introduced on either side of Freemantle Road.

Both crossings have refuge islands with bollards and beacons installed.

Temporary traffic lights were installed during the crossing works, as well as during  works to create a new road junction and infrastructure for the Curtis Fields housing development  which 'caused huge delays' for motorists.

On January 30, 2023, it was announced that 14 weeks of roadworks were set to start on the road, which is one of two main routes to Portland, lasting until April 28, 2023.

However this work overran into May, although there were breaks during school holidays.

Then, additional works started on Thursday, June 8, to continue adding a new road junction.

The houses on the site are set to be a mixture of two-bed and three-bed properties,  on three sections of land, one set of two houses and one of four houses facing Lanehouse Rocks Road and a set of three houses with vehicle parking just off the proposed road.

Electric vehicle charging points will also be installed as part of the development.