New bid to demolish saved bus shelter

A 1950s bus shelter saved from demolition after opponents staged a sit-in protest is facing the threat of being razed again.

The structure in Sheringham's Station Approach was due to be knocked down as part of a travel improvement scheme, but it was saved in December after a fiercely fought campaign.

A compromise to only demolish about half of the building was agreed, but now Sheringham Town Council is reviewing this. The saga has already cost the council £20,000.

An emergency meeting on Tuesday will decide the fate of the shelter, with an officer recommending reverting back to the original scheme and knocking it down completely.

Norfolk County Council workers downed tools and stopped proceeding with the government-funded project after town councillors withdrew support in December.

The land is owned by the town council, which is a key gateway into the resort and it is located next to the North Norfolk Railway.

The original scheme aimed to make improvements to the Station Approach area, known as Otterndorf Green, by demolishing the concrete bus shelter and building a new one to make accessibility improvements, such as widening pavements.

According to a Sheringham Town Council report, the county council said it would return to the site and could finish the original scheme early next year, if town councillors voted for this on Tuesday.

A decision is needed by Friday for work to restart in early March, otherwise it could be stalled until late 2027 or beyond.

The town council's finance officer has said this is the most financially sound option, costing only £3,950.

Michelle Baron, the town council clerk, said the review followed the council finding the cost of modifying the shelter was "substantially higher" than originally anticipated — about £49,000.

Knocking it down and rebuilding it brick-by-brick nearby would cost about £100,000.

The council claimed the decision to stop the original scheme had cost it about £20,000 already and it has had wider implications for the town.

Bus services have been blocked from using the Station Approach bus stop and have instead been temporarily using a stop on Cromer Road.

The council's finance officer said in a report: "The wish of some to retain the old shelter building needs to be balanced against the impacts this is having on businesses, residents, visitors and the more vulnerable people in our society."

The town council has also dismissed descriptions of the shelter as being "Art Deco" in design, calling it "misinformation".

Baron added that councillors and office staff had suffered online abuse from people over the dispute.

The renewed threat of demolition has sparked criticism from campaign groups.

The Sheringham Travel & Safety Partnership, which opposed the plans for full demolition, said in a statement: "Sheringham Town Council are in danger of being perceived here as the very antithesis of democracy and effectively making a mockery of their own electorate."

The town council will meet on Tuesday at 19:00 BST at Sheringham Community Centre to make a decision on the shelter.

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