Pressure pays off as Mearenside BusTracker finally reinstated

Where incumbent Councillor pressure has previously failed, I have forced the Council into a dramatic U-turn just weeks after they reported that “We have no plans to replace the Bustracker display at Mearenside”.

Back in mid-December, the Council’sTransport Policy & Planning department advised me that “the cost of repeated repairs is simply not sustainable”. I was therefore delighted to note last week, whilst out and about meeting local residents, that the Bustracker had finally been replaced.

This is fantastic news for local residents who have been without this service for several months. The Bustracker is a great tool for bus users, particularly when the No.31 can at times be erratic in its timekeeping in relation to the paper timetable.

After liaising with the local Safer Neighbourhood Police team regarding the situation, I was advised that from 1st January 2011 the Police had received no reports of vandalism to Maybury Drive or Mearenside relating to the Bustracker vandalism. 

I find it odd that the Council had chosen to remove the Bustracker but failed to report any criminal activity to the Police.  Only by reporting incidents of vandalism can the Police respond and react. 

I am delighted to hear though that our local Safer Neighbourhood Team Police Officer for the area Mark Coull's anti-social behaviour figures are improving in the area over the past few months.

Taking residents issues head on and delivering actions – not words – is key for any aspiring Councillor.  I will deliver what I promise and will continue to take up any and all issues on residents behalf.

Mearenside Bustracker - Residents fight back

I've been in to the Campaign HQ to pick up correspondence and one letter jumps out from a Mearenside resident where you may recall there has been an issue regarding vandalism of the Bustracker at the bus stop.

The decision to remove the Bustracker is clearly an unpopular one amongst residents based on the contents of the letter and I have complete sympathy for those who have been penalised by the actions of feral youths and their stupidity through vandalism.

The fight to reinstate the Bustracker continues.....

Misery for Mearenside residents over BusTracker removal

Following recent correspondence received from Mearenside residents, I have been in touch with the Council in respect of the broken / missing BusTracker situated beside the bus stop on Maybury Drive.

Unfortunately, due to continued mindless vandalism, Edinburgh Council, who operate in conjunction with Lothian Buses, have decided that the BusTracker will not be replaced.

Here is the body of the email I received today notifying me of the decision:

From: My BusTracker MyBusTracker@edinburgh.gov.uk 12/15/11

Dear Mr Brown,

Thank you for your email.

We have no plans to replace the Bustracker display at Mearenside. Unfortunately the Bustracker displays that were placed along Maybury Drive have been repeatedly vandalised and were all removed a few months ago.

After some community and local Councillor pressure we did reluctantly agree to replace the sign at Mearenside but on the strict understanding that if it were to be vandalised again, then it would be removed permanently. Unfortunately this has now happened.

This area has proven to be the worst location for such vandalism and the first location where we have had to take this action. I know that it will be a minority of mindless individuals that are causing the problem and it is the whole community that will suffer from the loss of the displays but the cost of repeated repairs is simply not sustainable.

Kind regards,
Stuart

Stuart Lowrie
The City of Edinburgh Council
Transport Policy & Planning

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I have since been in touch with Lothian & Borders Police re this regrettable action and will be meeting shortly with an Officer from the Safer Neighbourhood Team to discuss crime in the area and how positive prevention can help put forward a case for a return of the Bustracker.

More on this in the New Year!