South Wales Evening Post - 30 October 2006
Swansea's multi-million pound bendy bus scheme could be heading into a dead end, according to one city businessman.
Brian Evans owns Oystermouth Square in Mumbles - the proposed site for the massive 18.7-metre-long buses to turn around and begin the return leg of their journey.
But he has said that no buses, bendy or otherwise, will be allowed on the land in coming years due to problems with the site and a dispute with the council.
Swansea Council insists alternative plans are available.
The bendy bus scheme, or Swansea Metro, would see the extra long buses running from Mumbles to Morriston stopping off at key sites in the city along the way.
Work on The Kingsway to create a one-way system also includes preparations for the new buses.
The project is expected to be introduced in stages with the first buses being rolled out in 2008.
According to a council spokesman, work on the final leg of the route into Mumbles is not expected to start until 2008.
Mr Evans has criticised Swansea Council for claiming the scheme is fine and has launched a stinging attack on the entire project.
He has called for Swansea Council to go public with how they intend to turn around the bendy buses when they reach Mumbles.
Mr Evans has also challenged the council to reveal what public support the scheme has.
A spokesman for Swansea Council said sites had been identified to accommodate the bendy bus.
Mr Evans said: "I have written to Anthony O'Sullivan (head of transportation and engineering) saying that the buses would not be welcome on the square for many years and that they had to look for an alternative.
"Those buses coming to Mumbles would be a disaster, they are too big for Mumbles. They are not designed for these roads.
"They are kidding the people, things aren't fine with the use of Oystermouth Square - if they were they would be turning there now.
"I think that they are hoodwinking the people of Mumbles that they have somewhere else to turn. But where is it?
"Some of the buses they have now have problems turning here."
A spokesman for the council said: "The council believes that Oystermouth Square is an ideal turning point for the route into Mumbles.
"If the site is not available to us then we will look at other sites."
Mr Evans also raised questions about the suitability of the scheme and whether Swansea Council had properly thought out its plans
.He said: "Have they done traffic assessments? Did it include turning in Oystermouth Square? Do you know anybody that has been asked if they have a wish for the bendy bus?
"Don't you think that it is time they put their cards on the table?
"Why are we being presented with such a destructive force without any consultation on it?"
A council spokesman said that city centre businesses were given a three-day presentation on the scheme and gave positive feedback.
Chris Holley, the leader of Swansea Council, said: "We have had one of the top international companies, Ove Arup, to do the engineering work for this and it will turn in Oystermouth.
"Whether Mr Evans want to be part of that is up to him but he has to remember that he doesn't own all the land there.
"There is a design brief out for Oystermouth and if he wants to be part of it, so be it."
