WANT to sit down and wait for a bus? You might need a ladder here...

Villagers have been left rather baffled and bemused after new bus shelters were installed with super-high seats.

The new wooden bus shelters have been introduced in London Road, Feering, near the village’s Ridgeons building supplies shop.

But the shelters have been met with criticism from shorter and more elderly residents who are unable to reach the seats to sit down while waiting for the bus.

Councillor Paul Thorogood received the complaints and went to investigate the seating conundrum for himself.

He said: “Two new bus shelters have been installed either side of London Road, Feering, but the height of the seats isn’t very user-friendly...unless you’re a giant!

“The height of the seat opposite Ridgeons builder’s merchants is 76cm or 30ins tall.

“I’m 183cm or 6ft tall and even my feet don’t touch the ground when I’m sitting on the seat.

“For a 5ft 2ins tall pensioner with a dodgy knee or hip it’s totally unusable.

“The one on the Ridgeons side of the road isn’t much better.

“It’s 66cm/26in high.

“I’ve done some research and bus shelter seats are meant to be about 50cm or 20ins high.

“Many people who are elderly or have a disability need to be able to sit down when waiting for a bus.

“At the moment, they can’t.”

According to Mr Thorogood, an elderly residents told him the seats are “virtually impossible” to use.

They added: “It is far too high and therefore useless.

“I feel this is has been complete waste of money as it is not fit for purpose.

“I have stood at this bus shelter many times with other people who are also complaining about it.”

Mr Thorogood says the issue has been reported to Essex Highways.

He added: “Feering Parish Council used to own and maintain the bus stops before the new wooden ones were introduced as part of an agreement with Essex County Council and Bloor Homes, who are currently building 165 homes off London Road.

“Essex County Council is now responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the shelters.”

A spokesperson said: “The shelters were installed about eight months ago as part of a nearby development, but with travel restrictions around Covid-19 this issue has only just come to light.

“It’s not possible to lower the shelter due to the number of services running under the shelter so the Essex Highways maintenance team will arrange to have the seat lowered in both shelters as soon as possible.”