Reinstatement of Bus Shelter Rejected After Anti Social Behaviour Concerns...

Station Lane Hartlepool

Plans to reinstate a bus shelter in Seaton Carew which was taken away due to being regularly vandalised have been rejected following concerns over Anti Social behaviour.....

23rd June 2025

A long-debated issue over whether to reinstate a bus shelter on Station Lane, near Byland Grove in Seaton Carew, has reached its conclusion – with councillors recommended to scrap the plans following a public consultation.

A report set to go before Hartlepool Borough Councils Neighbourhood Services Committee on the 30th June 2025 is said to recommend against reinstalling the bus shelter, following strong local opposition and a history of anti-social behaviour. The decision comes following a consultation that attracted a total of 115 responses – with 71 against and 44 in favour, where officers noted that even after removing whats said to have been twelve duplicate responses, the majority still opposed the idea (57% against vs 43% in favour).

For years, the bus shelter at Byland Grove served passengers of the Stagecoach No. 1 route, which connects Seaton Carew to the town centre, Throston and High Tunstall – and even onwards to Middlesbrough. But over time, the shelter became a magnet for vandalism and unruly behaviour, leaving it beyond repair and deeply unpopular with nearby residents. The council ultimately removed the structure some 12 to 18 months ago.

For many living close by, its removal brought relief. But for regular bus users – especially those reliant on public transport to get to work, school, or medical appointments – the loss of shelter in bad weather became an increasing frustration. It wasn’t long before calls to reinstate the shelter began to surface.

For years, the bus shelter at Station Rd, to the Junction of Byland Grove served passengers of the Stagecoach No. 1 route, which connects Seaton Carew to the town centre, Throston and High Tunstall – and even onwards to Middlesbrough. But over time, its claimed the bus shelter became a magnet for vandalism and Anti Social behaviour, leaving it beyond repair. The council ultimately removed the structure some 12 to 18 months ago.

For many living close by, its claimed the removal brought relief from the problems which were caused by the shelter being in place. But for regular bus users – especially those reliant on public transport to get to work, school, or medical appointments – the loss of shelter in bad weather became an increasing frustration. It wasn’t long before calls to reinstate it began to surface.

In response to the conflicting opinions, Hartlepool Borough Council then carried out a public consultation earlier this year. Notices were placed at the bus stop, and on the buses themselves, inviting views from both residents and bus users.

The results revealed :

• 44 were in favour of reinstating the shelter

• 71 against, although this included 12 duplicate addresses, meaning 59 individual homes opposed the shelter

  
  

But, its claimed the weight of the responses lay ultimately in where they came from. The council report notes most of the opposition came from residents living directly next to the stop, many of whom shared detailed concerns about past anti-social behaviour, feeling unsafe due to loitering youths, and general disorder linked to the shelter’s presence. By contrast, its claimed many of those in favour reportedly didn’t leave an address

The Council’s View: Residents' Safety Trumps Shelter

The report set to go before councillors next week reports that whilst the council acknowledges the inconvenience faced by bus users, it ultimately sides with those living closest to the stop. As the report bluntly puts it: “There is no middle ground” – either the shelter is reinstated, or it isn’t.

The cost of a new bus shelter was reportedly set to cost between £3,000–£4,000 pounds and would have been covered by the Local Transport Plan budget...