Bus Stops and Shelters

On this page:

• Bus Shelter Issues
• Commercially-Operated Routes
• Council-Subsidised Routes
• Vandalism, Littering or other Anti-Social Behaviour at Bus Stops
• Locating and Improving Bus Stops
• Temporary Suspension of Bus Stops for Streetworks

Bus Shelter Issues

Apart from a few specific exceptions shown in the table below, bus shelters are the responsibility of the Town and Parish Council for the area they are located in.  

You should contact the Parish or Town Council directly with queries about or requests for bus shelters.

Commercially-Operated Routes

Bus stop poles, signs (also known as flags) and timetable display cases on commercially-operated bus routes (routes that are run by private companies and don't receive subsidies from West Berkshire Council) are shown in the table below.

They are the responsibility of the relevant bus company to maintain. 

Council-Subsidised Routes

Bus stops poles, signs (also known as flags) and timetable display cases on other, subsidised, bus routes are the responsibility of West Berkshire Council. Please let the council's Transport Services Team know about any damage to these bus stops, or if you have a request for a new stop.
 

Vandalism, Littering or other Anti-Social Behaviour at Bus Stops

If issues such as vandalism or anti-social behaviour affect a bus stop, they should reported to the police. 

If litter is a concern, you can report a problem with litter using our online form.
 

Locating and Improving Bus Stops

When locating bus stops, we try to take customers, residents and businesses needs into account. We try to make sure that, wherever possible, any new or relocated stops are situated so as to avoid negative impacts on nearby properties.

We carry out a site visit before we install or relocate a bus stop, or before upgrading an existing stop with new facilities. New facilities might include raised kerbs, replacement signs (flags) or shelters.

We consider a range of things about a location on a site visit, including: 

• the speed limit on the road
• how wide the road is
• how close it is to a junction
• parking - including where parking would stop buses from pulling up close to the kerb or verge to allow customers get on and off easily
• stopping distances
• any obstruction to the lines of sight of the driver

We then talk to bus operators, the council's Traffic and Road Safety Team and the Thames Valley Police Road Safety Team. Local councillors are then invited to consider and comment on the proposals, given their role to represent the views of residents. 

Before Starting Work

As the Highway Authority, West Berkshire Council has full legal powers to install and upgrade bus stops. This can be done without giving prior notification or obtaining permission, as the work takes place on the public highway.

However, our policy is that it is good practice to notify residents that live next to a proposed bus stop that work is planned, and to give an approximate date when it will start. We will not write to every nearby household, but if there are specific issues that come to light, we will consider them carefully, working with local councillors.
 

Temporary Suspension of Bus Stops for Streetworks

If utility or other streetworks require the temporary suspension of a bus stop or stops on a council-supported bus route, we require at least 10 working days advance notice of this and reserve the right to charge third parties, such as utility companies. This is to cover costs of providing customer information, updating databases and, where appropriate, providing a temporary bus stop or stops at a nearby location. 

The fee charged for this is as per our Highways Fees and Charges Policy. With effect from 1 April 2024, the fee will be £192 per individual stop or £224 per pair of stops on either side of the road within the works area. 

If your proposed works require the temporary suspension of a bus stop:

• please ensure that you have applied for all necessary Streetworks, Traffic and Development Control approvals as appropriate, by contacting the Streetworks Team, the Traffic and Road Safety Team and Highways Development Control as appropriate and sufficiently in advance of your works
   
• give at least 10 working days advance notice - please contact the Transport Services Team with your request, identifying the precise location(s) where the stops are to be suspended, including a plan showing how any traffic management measures will be laid out and a purchase order, or order number, to cover the cost of the bus stop suspension

Commercial bus operators may also charge for similar measures where the works location is on a commercial bus route. The Transport Services Team will pass your enquiry on to them where appropriate.