Bus Shelter Vandalised In Fairlands For Third Time

Published on: 11 Jul, 2021
Updated on: 11 Jul, 2021

By Hugh Coakley

A bus shelter in Fairlands, Worplesdon has been vandalised with the glass panels at both ends smashed.

This is at least the third time this bus shelter has been targeted and Guildford Borough Council said there have been 17 attacks on bus shelters in the borough in the last five years.

Bus shelter vandalised in Fairlands, Worplesdon on July 1.

Gaynor White, parish clerk at Worplesdon Parish Council said: “This criminal damage will be reported to Surrey Police, although it’s very unlikely anyone will be identified for causing the damage.”

Victoria Fear, assistant parish clerk added: “It happened in 2017 and 2019. The bus shelter on the Aldershot Road does seem to attract vandals. We have found ball bearings in the debris in the past and we think the damage could have been done by a catapult.”

Guildford Borough Councillor Julia McShane (Lib Dem, Westborough).

Guildford Borough Councillor Julia McShane (Lib Dem, Westborough), the lead councillor for community and housing, said: “Over the last five years, 17 GBC bus shelters have been vandalised. This is an issue many local authorities have around the country.

“We have replaced the glass in the bus shelters that have been vandalised with acrylic panels, which is a much more resistant material and are working more closely with the police.

“We also recently carried out a public consultation whilst reviewing our Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO), to help us find out where our residents experience antisocial behaviour. We will be sharing feedback over the coming months.”

In South Yorkshire, Barnsley council reported a doubling of bus shelter vandalism during the covid pandemic, leading to costly repairs.

The replacement panels for the Fairlands bus shelter are planned to be perforated metal to match the existing panels at the rear of the shelter. Gaynor White said they had “proved to be far more durable”.

She said that they had recently been advised that Surrey County Council intends to install an electronic “real time passenger Information” board in the bus shelter in the near future.