Decision details

The Council has a responsibility to provide bus stops in Ipswich and discretionary powers to provide bus stop clearways, in both cases via an agency agreement with Suffolk County Council that allows the Council to exercise certain powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. Bus stop clearways make it an offence to stop or park a vehicle (except buses and certain other vehicles allowed in law) at a bus stop at the times at which the clearway is in force and are shown by means of a thick yellow line on the carriageway and the installation of a small sign.

The provision of bus stop clearway restrictions is important as without them bus stops can often be blocked by parked vehicles, meaning that buses cannot pull up flush with the kerbs. In some cases, passengers are forced to board or alight from the bus in the middle of the carriageway which is not safe, and for passengers who are elderly or who have physical disabilities could be impossible.

In June 2019, the Council received a complaint that vehicles were being parked blocking a bus stop on Tuddenham Avenue near Tuddenham Road. This complaint was investigated and it was confirmed that the problem is a regular occurrence. As such, following a consultation with affected residents, ward councillors and the bus operator, to which there were no objections received, an officer decision has now been made to install two bus stop clearway restrictions in force from 9.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Saturday at the bus stops listed below (IBC ward shown in brackets) at an estimated cost of £350. These will be 19 metres in length as only midi-buses use these bus stops. The times of operation of the bus stop clearways are to ensure that the restrictions do not apply any longer than is necessary to cover the times of operation of the bus service that serves these bus stops. As part of these works the existing outbound bus stop opposite 118 Tuddenham Avenue will be relocated to a position opposite 122 Tuddenham Avenue.

·         Tuddenham Avenue (outbound) opposite 118 (relocated to be opposite 122) (ST.MARGARET’S)

·         Tuddenham Avenue (inbound) outside 122 (ST.MARGARET’S).

To exercise the Council’s powers provided via an agency agreement with Suffolk County Council under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 to relocate the outbound bus stop opposite 118 Tuddenham Avenue to a new position opposite 122 Tuddenham Avenue and to install a 19 metre bus stop clearway restriction in force from 9.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Saturday at both this bus stop and the inbound bus stop outside 122 Tuddenham Avenue.