Dear All
I have read with interest the comments on the proposed revised station approach layout to improve the movement and especially the safety of both vehicles and pedestrians. I would like to add that this is a County Council scheme using ring fenced money for the provision of improved public transport facilities for our County. This money cannot be spent elsewhere and is not our town council's project. We as the local operator were consulted on the scheme and I am happy to share with you all the issues we raised which are as follows:
Coming from the Cromer Road roundabout to enter Station Approach when traffic is waiting to exit Station approach buses cannot access the turn into Station Approach without impinging on the pavement therefore Buses have to wait and this can cause a block to traffic flow. Members of the public exiting the car park tend to stand on the corner waiting to cross, creating a further hazard for our drivers to be particularly aware of.
The Bus Shelter is sited too close to the kerb edge given the number of passengers that regularly wait for the buses, this causes buses to often have to stop short of the actual stop point as the crowd is so close to the road edge it would be dangerous for the driver to try to drive past them.
People heading for the North Norfolk Railway or the public toilets have to regularly edge through the bus passenger queue to reach their intended destination.
The growth in passenger numbers over the last few years has been huge. In the period from April 1st 2022 to March 31st 2023 the number of passengers boarding and alighting in Station approach was 286,958, in the last 12 months from April 1st 2024 to March 31st 2025 it was just over 400,000. If numbers continue to grow as more and more people seek to use green sustainable public tarnsport the current issues can only continue to get worse.
There is also going to be an improvement to the waiting pavement space at the West End of Station Approach Bus Stop near to the putting green, again an area no longer large enough to cope with the demand placed upon it at busy times.
Whilst change is not always easy to accept, or easy to fully understand, I hope that the above information will help people to understand why this improvement is being considered, and that ultimately everyone is on the same side here, and just looking to do the right thing to help Sheringham be a vibrant and forward looking town dealing with its current success as a destination, and allowing for even more potential growth in the future.
Kind Regards
Charles Sanders