FROM BUS DRIVER CONCERN TO COUNCIL ACTION: THE CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE AN ARNOLD BUS STOP


By Lee Odams – written in a personal capacity. The views expressed are my own and do not necessarily represent those of the RMT or any other organisation unless explicitly stated.

For anyone who has followed my recent posts regarding the outbound bus stop on Calverton Road, Arnold (GE0354), there has now been a significant development.

After months of correspondence, Freedom of Information requests, follow-up emails, public engagement and discussions with elected representatives, Nottinghamshire County Council and Via East Midlands have now formally proposed relocating the bus stop, installing raised boarding kerbs and creating an enforceable bus stop clearway.

For me, this has never been about politics, publicity or point-scoring.

It has been about accessibility.

WHY I RAISED THE ISSUE

As a Calverton route bus driver, I use this stop regularly and see first-hand the difficulties many passengers experience.

The existing stop is located over a residential driveway. Because of this, there is no proper raised boarding kerb. In reality, the kerb height is significantly lower than would normally be expected at an accessible bus stop.

Even when modern buses kneel to reduce the step height, many passengers still struggle.

Those difficulties are particularly noticeable for:

• Elderly passengers
• People with mobility impairments
• Passengers using walking aids
• People carrying shopping
• Wheelchair users
• Parents travelling with pushchairs

Accessibility should not be judged solely by whether somebody can eventually board a bus.

It should be judged by whether they can do so safely, comfortably and with dignity.

TAKING THE ISSUE FORWARD

After witnessing these problems repeatedly, I began raising concerns with Nottinghamshire County Council and Via East Midlands.

Over time I:

• Contacted council officers
• Submitted Freedom of Information requests
• Requested details of previous assessments
• Followed up with councillors
• Raised awareness publicly
• Published blog articles highlighting the issue
• Continued pressing for a practical solution

One of the most revealing responses came through the Freedom of Information process.

The Council confirmed that bus stop GE0354 had not been included in the original Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) shortlist, but that following requests made regarding the site, a BSIP-funded feasibility study had been initiated to investigate possible improvements.

That was the first indication that the issue was finally being taken seriously.

THE BREAKTHROUGH

The breakthrough came when Nottinghamshire County Council and Via East Midlands opened a formal consultation regarding bus stop GE0354.

The consultation proposes:

• Relocating the existing stop
• Installing raised boarding kerbs
• Creating a 19-metre enforceable bus stop clearway
• Improving bus alignment with the kerb
• Improving accessibility for disabled passengers and pushchair users
• Preventing obstruction from parked vehicles

Importantly, the consultation documentation specifically acknowledges concerns about the stop being located over a residential driveway and a lack of raised boarding kerbs causing difficulties for elderly passengers, wheelchair users and pushchair users.

Those are the exact concerns that have been raised throughout this campaign.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Some have questioned why improvements are needed when there have been no reported serious accidents.

That misses the point entirely.

Good accessibility work is about identifying barriers before somebody gets injured.

We do not wait for a serious collision before improving a dangerous junction.

We do not wait for somebody to fall before repairing a broken pavement.

Likewise, we should not wait until a vulnerable passenger is hurt before improving a poorly designed bus stop.

Public transport should be accessible to everyone, not just those physically capable of overcoming unnecessary obstacles.

A POSITIVE OUTCOME

The consultation does not mean the work is guaranteed.

However, it does mean the issue has moved from being a concern raised by local passengers and drivers to a formally recognised project being considered by the highway authority.

That is progress.

It also demonstrates the value of persistence.

One person raising a concern may not achieve immediate change.

But evidence, constructive engagement and perseverance can make a difference.

A TIMELINE OF THE CAMPAIGN

This issue did not appear overnight.

July 2025 – I formally raised concerns regarding the location of the bus stop and the difficulties faced by passengers due to the lack of a raised kerb and its location over a residential driveway.

August 2025 – Nottinghamshire County Council acknowledged my request and advised that enquiries would be undertaken into the concerns raised.

Throughout late 2025 – I continued to pursue the issue, submitted further correspondence and requested updates.

December 2025 – Internal council correspondence confirmed the issue had been referred for consideration under the Bus Service Improvement Plan accessibility programme. Officers specifically referenced the absence of a raised kerb and the difficulties this caused for elderly and wheelchair users.

January 2026 – Further follow-up correspondence was submitted, together with requests for updates regarding progress.

2026 – Freedom of Information requests were submitted seeking details of assessments, consultations, decision making processes and accessibility considerations relating to the stop.

The FOI responses confirmed that the stop had not originally been included in the BSIP shortlist but that a BSIP-funded feasibility study had now been initiated following concerns raised.

Most recently – Via East Midlands and Nottinghamshire County Council published a formal consultation proposing relocation of the stop, installation of raised boarding kerbs and a new bus stop clearway.

For the first time, the concerns being raised by passengers and drivers have been formally recognised within a public consultation process.

THANK YOU

I would like to thank everyone who has supported this campaign.

That includes:

• Local passengers who shared their experiences
• Fellow drivers who provided information and photographs
• Residents who engaged constructively
• Councillors who assisted with enquiries
• Council officers who investigated the issue
• Those who took the time to respond to consultations and correspondence

Most importantly, I hope the eventual outcome is a bus stop that better serves the people who rely on it every day.

Because public transport should be accessible to all.

Not just in theory.

But in practice.

Tags: #BusSafety #AccessibilityMatters #Arnold #CalvertonRoad #PublicTransport #BusDrivers #Nottinghamshire #ViaEastMidlands #BSIP #InclusiveTransport #WheelchairAccess #OlderPeople #CommunityCampaigning #FreedomOfInformation #TransportPolicy #BusStopGE0354 #Calverton #Nottingham #TransportAccessibility #LeeOdamsBlog

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