THERE is good news that today, Friday, September 25, the much-anticipated additional bus shelter on Joseph Locke Way has been assembled.

It was in February, after months of campaigning, that Crediton Town and Mid Devon District Councillor John Downes told the Courier that he had received a positive response to his efforts to have a bus shelter installed on Joseph Locke Way.

Councillor John Downes who has been actively pursuing a bus shelter opposite Redlands Surgery in Joseph Locke Way. AQ 0239
Councillor John Downes, pictured in February, who has been actively pursuing a bus shelter opposite Redlands Surgery in Joseph Locke Way. AQ 0239 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

He described as “brilliant news” the response he has received from Devon Highways Officer.

It read: “I can confirm, the bus shelter and the engineering works required to deliver this was brought up at the meeting and I am discussing this further with Tesco Consultant and all looks very positive for this to be delivered when all the works are carried out later this year.”

Cllr Downes said in December that it was a failure to agree between Tesco and Devon Highways which was continuing to leave sick, vulnerable and elderly people waiting for a bus on a grass verge where a bus stop has no shelter.

He explained that the bus stop, on Joseph Locke Way, is well used by those coming and going from Redlands Surgery, Redlands Pharmacy, The Red Deer public house, the Tesco superstore and Mole Avon.

People getting off a Stagecoach bus onto the grass verge opposite Redlands Surgery in Joseph Locke Way. AQ 0244
People getting off a Stagecoach bus onto the grass verge opposite Redlands Surgery in Joseph Locke Way in February. AQ 0244 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

In June works began to improve the highway at the Wellparks roundabout and A377 and then the Tesco roundabout and recently along Joseph Locke Way.

It was after John Downes campaigned on behalf of Crediton Town Council that the bus shelter was approved.

Previously the public were forced to stand in the rain on the grass verge to await a bus at the location or alight from a bus.

John spoke about his attempts to have the bus shelter built at several meetings of Crediton Town Council.

Joseph Locke Way has yet to reopen fully.

Councillor John Downes in front of a Stagecoach bus at the bus stop outside Redlands Surgery where there is one shelter, but none the other side. AQ 0237
Councillor John Downes in front of a Stagecoach bus at the bus stop outside Redlands Surgery in February where there was just one shelter, now a second has been installed on the other side. AQ 0237 (Alan Quick, Crediton Courier)

Good news is that the bus gate has been removed.

It is hoped that Devon County Council will adopt Joseph Locke Way and the remainder of Station Road to enable the road’s full use in the future.

However, Devon County Council has applied for No Waiting at Any Time on specified lengths of Joseph Locke Way.

Objections and comments to this must be submitted by October 15. No opening date has yet been announced for the road.