Royal Parade Temporary Bus Shelters Cost Whopping £47k

Plymouth City Council has spent nearly £47,000 converting three shipping containers into temporary bus shelters for Royal Parade - raising questions about value for money when the authority admits it has no plans for their future use once the current project ends.

The eye-watering cost of £46,802 for what officials describe as a temporary measure during the Royal Parade Bus Improvement scheme works out at over £15,600 per shelter - a price tag that raises questions over the council's procurement priorities.

Premium Price for Temporary Solution

The converted containers include seating, perspex-screened windows, accessible ramps with guardrails, solar-powered lighting, bird spikes, signage, and anti-climb rollers. While these features suggest quality construction, the premium cost for temporary infrastructure will raise eyebrows among budget-conscious residents.

Freedom of Information responses obtained by PlymLeaks reveal that the council cannot provide a breakdown of purchase, modification, and installation costs - limiting public scrutiny of where the £46,802 was actually spent.

No Long-Term Strategy

Perhaps more concerning is the council's admission that "no decision has been made on the future use of the shelters" once they're no longer needed for Royal Parade. While officials suggest they could be relocated to other bus stops like Derry's Cross Roundabout, the lack of a concrete plan indicates Plymouth City Council may have dropped the ball on strategic thinking.

This uncertainty means Plymouth taxpayers are funding expensive temporary infrastructure without knowing whether it will provide long-term value or end up as costly waste.

Value for Money Questions

At £15,600 per shelter, the cost appears steep for temporary structures. While bus shelter costs vary significantly by specification and location, the premium price for temporary infrastructure warrants scrutiny of the procurement process.

The solar lighting, anti-climb features, and accessibility ramps suggest these are built to permanent standards despite their temporary designation - a decision that may represent either good forward planning or expensive over-specification.

Pattern of Poor Planning

The shipping container shelters are part of the broader Royal Parade Bus Improvement scheme, but the lack of cost breakdown and unclear future plans suggest potential weaknesses in project management and transparency.

Nearly £47,000 for three temporary bus shelters seems excessive. Residents deserve to know exactly how this money was spent and what happens to these expensive structures when the roadworks finish.

Council's Defence

Plymouth City Council defended the expenditure, emphasising that the shelters would be used "throughout the construction phase" and potentially relocated to other bus stops around the city. However, officials could not provide specific costs for future relocation or storage.

Wider Context

The bus shelter spending comes as Plymouth faces budget pressures across multiple services. The £46,802 cost represents money that could have funded other transport improvements or essential services, making transparency about spending decisions even more crucial.

PlymLeaks will continue to monitor the council's transport spending and the eventual fate of these expensive temporary shelters.

About this story: Data obtained through Freedom of Information Act request reference FS-Case-697706521.