Another Bus Vandalised in Southampton Crimewave Another Bus Vandalised in Southampton Crimewave
Southampton has been experiencing a surge in bus vandalisations. Over the last few months, windows on Bluestar and CityRed buses have been the targets of attacks, where windows have been smashed and doors broken whilst they were in service.
Police are now having to board buses to prevent these attacks and protect the drivers and passengers of these bus services, many of whom are essential workers travelling for work.
Groups of youths are the suspected culprits of these acts of vandalism. Recently, a 12-year-old boy was held in connection with one such attack and admitted to the attack. However, six more youths managed to escape the scene, with Neighbourhood Police being only minutes behind them.
This comes after string of similar incidents in the last few months that prompted police to start boarding buses in order to deter anyone from causing further damage. A police spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we received reports of criminal damage on Tuesday 6 April at the junction of Borrowdale Road and Windermere Avenue. “The incident occurred at around 8.30pm, where a Blue Star bus window was smashed.” Now councillors are calling on the community to “come together” to stop this from happening again. Ward councillor for Millbrook, Steven Galton, said: “It isn’t just a bit of harmless fun. It could cause serious injury or loss of life.
Taxis, buses and cyclists would continue to have access. The move would lead to changes to Six Dials where the number of lanes moving through the junction to the east and west would be reduced. This would particularly affect the lanes heading to New Road westbound, according to the council. Lanes to east and west would also be narrowed to make way for new development space near the car park between Kingsway and New Road. Traffic signals at Six Dials would be updated and the existing subways would be improved. As part of the scheme, a new bus hub would be created at Albion Place car park on Portland Terrace.
Council wants to ban certain taxis from bus lanes to cut air pollution SOME taxis could be banned from using bus lanes in Southampton as city bosses try to crack down on air pollution. Taxis and private hire vehicles licensed outside of Southampton could be allowed to access bus lanes in the city only from 7am to 9.30am and from 4am to 6.30pm on weekdays and only if the vehicle was first registered on or after January 2006 if petrol and September 2015 if diesel. A public consultation on the proposals will run from January 29 to February 22 and comes after initial plans to totally ban taxis from bus lanes in the city sparked criticism.
A CONTROVERSIAL cycle lane in Southampton has cost more than £150,000 worth of public money, it has been revealed. Civic chiefs have spent a total of £152,419.50 on a temporary cycle lane on The Avenue and Bassett Avenue. The 4.9km stretch of cycle lane on The Avenue remains in place. But as reported, the one on Bassett Avenue - between Winchester Road roundabout and Chilworth Road roundabout - was put in place at the end of May and removed at the start of September. The removal of the two-kilometers-long cycle lane followed an increase in traffic and concerns from local residents and councillors.