Bus depot disruption unbearable for local residents

12.00.00am GMT Thu 21st Feb 2008

Cllr Denise Reaney and local campaigner Frank Taylor

Local people in the Heeley area have complained to their local Liberal Democrat councillor over disruption caused by a local bus depot. Since FirstBus centralised it's depots, increasing the use of the Olive Grove Road depot, local people have suffered from early morning disturbances and parking problems. Local Lib Dem Councillor for Gleadless Valley Denise Reaney has taken up their case and demanded action.

Denise has received complaints that FirstBus staff are vying with residents for an already insufficient number of places to park. There are already parking issues in the area during the football season when Sheffield United are playing at home. Residents affected include those on Olive Grove Road, Ann's Road North, Slate Street, Delf Street and Heeley Bank Road.

In addition local residents have complained about being disturbed in the middle of the night and early morning by FirstBus staff revving their engines when their windscreens were frozen over, and calling to colleagues in the road.

Denise has written to the Passenger Transport Authority and asked them to take the issue up with FirstBus. Denise has also written to the Council to demand that parking restrictions are enforced in the area.

Cllr Denise Reaney, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Gleadless Valley Ward, said: -

"For at least two years I have continually received numerous complaints about the abuse of parking restrictions on match days in the area. However, with this latest development I now feel that for many residents in the area the parking situation has reached breaking point."

"Residents tell me that they are having to park their cars 300m from where they live; others say they are having their dropped kerb access blocked and vehicles are being parked over the pavements."

"But there is also the disturbance issue. FirstBus staff work shifts and unsociable hours and local residents are being disturbed in the middle of the night by excessive noise. This is unacceptable."

"Enough is enough and it's time that all the authorities work together to resolve the issue. There should be adequate parking facilities for staff actually on the Bus depot site and the Council should start to enforce parking restrictions in the area."