Elderly bus users have blasted a “silly” stop they say has been installed the wrong way around and in the wrong place.

Maple Cross residents who use the Downings Wood Terminus have numerous complaints over how a replacement bus shelter was installed last year, with Chorleywood South and Maple Cross councillor Harry Davies calling for changes to the "wrong way around" wooden structure.

There had previously been a metal and glass shelter, which faced the same way but could be seen through directly towards the road. The previous stop also had tarmac space to the left side (facing towards the carriageway) for people to get on and off.

The bus stop now compared with how it used to be laid out.The bus stop now compared with how it used to be laid out. (Image: Cllr Louise Price/Google Street View) The equivalent space for the new shelter is now on the opposite side, and therefore nearer the bend. Downings Wood's angle means that any bus coming to a stop there would block the entire road, leading to “irate drivers” according to fellow councillor Louise Price.

To avoid this, the buses will apparently tend to park further up, which makes it difficult for elderly passengers to get on and off.

“If I go down there and I speak to people, people are upset about it, definitely,” said councillor Price, who has also been demanding a fix.

(Image: Cllr Louise Price) “Pretty much everyone that uses it is upset about it. It’s just silly. Unfortunately, it’s just not been thought through. Particularly for elderly people or disabled people.”

The Liberal Democrat added that a tarmac area to the other side of the stop would likely be enough to fix the problem.

(Image: Cllr Louise Price) A Three Rivers District Council spokesperson said: “The district council-owned shelter was installed in April 2023 to replace an old existing one that had fallen into a poor state of repair, which was sited in the same position.

“The side panels of the shelter are glazed to enable bus users to see when buses are arriving as well as a tarmac area to the side of the shelter for getting on and off the bus."

The 320, 322, R1, R2, and W1 buses call at the stop, which also has issues with graffiti.

Bus partly blocking the road despite stopping beyond the tarmac area. Bus partly blocking the road despite stopping beyond the tarmac area. (Image: Cllr Louise Price)