Stourbridge bus drivers left without toilets
Friday 29th October 2010, 1:00PM BST.
Bus drivers in Stourbridge are being caught short as £7million upgrade works to the bus station have left them without staff toilets, it emerged today.
The station, in Foster Street East, has closed while the 18-month project takes place. Drivers are allowed to use the facilities at the Age Concern centre in St John’s Road – but it is only open between 8.30am and 3pm, meaning those on a late shift are left without a loo.
Bosses from National Express were today negotiating a deal with Age Concern staff for longer opening hours.
Centre manager Joe Green said: “We have opened our facilities for the bus drivers to use, and were in a meeting today talking to National Express about extending opening hours so we can accommodate them later in the day and at weekends.”
It comes after claims by passengers that bus drivers working until midnight were having to go to the toilet in public alleyways.
One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: “One of the drivers said apparently they are having to walk into an alleyway and go there. Surely they should have something far better than an alleyway for bus drivers to go in – it’s not very hygienic.”
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Perhaps they could try asking nicely at the Rock Station pub in Foster Street East.
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national express staff are not allowed in pubs clubs etc why in uniform as they could be reported for drinking why on duty.
i am a member of staff who works for national express group and i have seen it happen and member staff get frog marched all over the place
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never heard of porta loo many workers use these at work
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Can’t they organize a few PortaLoos (or whatever they are called) strategically located for bus Driver use only?
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Is this really newsworthy? … after all it is obvious that they have nothing to go on! ……..
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I think they’re working up to a future headline like “Bus Driver went where you’re not allowed to go”. Last time I was in US I saw some TravelJohn disposable urinals that allow you to go in the drivers seat (both sexes), seal it and get rid if it later. On the box they showed pictures of cars,planes, boats, tents and potty training. But unfortunately no buses or post money and ticket handling.
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The bus drivers were moaning about this already last week !
Apparently a pub intervened and agreed for a small amount each week only to be turned down by the brewery.
That said there are perfectly good public toilets by St John’s.
These were built as a priority payment with European money (see plaque).So as a French taxpayer……….
PS When you throw stones at Europe don’t forget the Stourbridge area has had quite a lot of money back from the European Union : the signaling up to Galton Bridge, Stourbridge College in Hagley Road etc,etc.
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little fish in a big pond for what the uk contributes to the eu
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I’d like to know when they’re actually going to start work on the redevelopment! I travel to work through Stourbridge bus station most mornings and yesterday, having been closed for 4 days, all that had been done was the whole area barriered off, bus shelters and the drivers building. I would at least have expected to see the bus shelters gone or the drivers building demolished!
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Are they trying to take the pee? Oh sorry, they can’t!
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