THE removal of a bus shelter at the centre of a public consultation is an unlikely outcome, according to Coun Brian Mattock.

A public consultation on the removal of the shelter near the south Tismeads Crescent junction of Croft Road on the north-east bound carriageway came to an end last night.

Residents around the area had received requests for their views on the move, which would retain the bus stop but replace the shelter with a pole and sign, or simply downsize the existing structure.

The proposals were drawn up in response to concerns from residents living behind the shelter, who have complained of anti-social behaviour and littering attracted by the bus stop.

Responses to the consultation are believed to number between 20 and 30. These views of the public will be fed back to the Old Town ward councillors, Rod Bluh (Con), Brian Mattock (Con) and Nadine Watts (Lab), who will then make a decision.

Coun Mattock said judging by correspondence he has received directly, the removal of the shelter would not be an option.

“A number of people that have made contact, both through the MP’s office and ourselves (ward councillors). We have a completely open mind,” he said.

“We want to do whatever local residents want – if that means leaving it exactly as it is, then we will.

“There is no agenda here, this is a routine consultation. “I haven’t had anyone that says they want the bus shelter removed. The shelter will stay there.

“The question is do residents want it to stay there as it is. “Those that have contacted us have indicated they would like it to stay.

“The option of removing it is on the table, but I don’t expect it to be the answer at all, I’ve not had one person voicing that.”

Winifred Sayer, 81, of Glenwood Close, has led concerns from elderly over the future of the shelter. She is confident she and her supporters have done all they can to save the shelter during the consultation.

She said: “I have done all that I can to make sure that everyone knows what our plight is. We really don’t want it moved.

“I don’t know how they can make it any smaller. There are some men from Nationwide who use it, and they are quite tall, it can’t be made any shorter.”

A spokesman for Swindon Council said: “The consultation with local residents is about to end, and we will then feed the results back to the local councillors who will take a view based on the comments that have been made.

“We had a similar exercise back in 2010, when the occupant of the house at the time asked for the shelter to be removed, but it was ultimately decided that it should remain in place.”