£230k to be spent on eco bus shelters at Hereford Bus Station

Herefordshire Council is to spend £230,500 on “green” bus shelters at its largest bus station.

The 12 existing shelters at Hereford Country Bus Station need replacing “due to disrepair and poor condition”, Herefordshire Council said.

Their planned replacements will have roofs planted with sedums – low-growing plants that require little soil or moisture and which absorb carbon dioxide while also removing pollution from the air.

There is also to be a standalone shelter for the city’s free Zipper electric bus service.

The spending is part of the ongoing £6-million Hereford City Centre Improvement (HCCI) package, largely funded through the soon-to-be-wound-up Marches Local Enterprise Partnership. The “city greening” element is worth £362,000 of which £56,500 has so far been spent.

The HCCI money will cover £198,000 of the new bus station shelters, the rest coming from council reserves. Berkshire-based Externiture has been awarded the contract to supply them.

Bus shelters with green roofs have already been installed at the Red Barn Drive stop on Yazor Road and at the Memorial and Victoria bus stops on Whitecross Road in the city, while there are also green roofs on cycle stores at Gaol Street car park.