Following this week’s damage to the bus shelter by the McCarthy Stone flats on Cobden Bridge, the shelter by Priory Road has again been smashed soon after its latest repair, and one in Portswood has also reportedly been damaged.
• Clearing up - again: Repeated damage to bus shelters on Cobden Bridge
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Those waiting for the number 20 bus on Thursday morning by the retirement flats on Cobden Bridge stoically avoided the heap of glass that had been swept from the pavement. .
Meanwhile the pavement and cycle lane by the next stop along, by the Priory Road crossroads, was again strewn with debris from that shelter.
Pedestrians walked gingerly around the fragments.
One St Denys resident, who didn’t want to be named, had just missed the bus from that stop.
She said she was shocked to see the damage.
“Disgusting isn’t it? That someone has got nothing more on their brain than to go along doing this. You know, their life must be really empty.”
She added: “I went to Sainsbury’s on Tuesday morning, and I got off the bus, and they’ve done both panels there.”
Martin from Bitterne Park, who was walking over the bridge towards Portswood on Thursday morning, said: “It’s just mindless vandalism. It’s pointless. What does it serve?”
Although the stops are manged for the council by Clear Channel, Richard Tyldsley, Bluestar general manager, told bitternepark.info:
“It’s disappointing and concerning that the actions of a mindless person or group of people have resulted in damaged waiting areas for our passengers - and broken glass affecting other pavement users as well.”
A spokesperson for Clear Channel said: "Clear Channel UK was made aware of the damage involving a number of our bus shelters in Southampton this week. Our operatives attended the sites upon receiving notification to make them safe. The team is assessing the damage to the shelters and the shelters will be repaired per our agreement with the council."
Bitterne Park councillors and Hampshire constabulary have also been contacted for comment. We’ll endeavour to update if they respond.
The bus shelter by McCarthy Stone retirement flats on Cobden Bridge on Thursday, with pile of glass
• Clearing up - again: Repeated damage to bus shelters on Cobden Bridge