Why do Essex CC bus shelters cost £13,000?

Surprise has been expressed that it costs Essex County Council £9,188 to erect a metal bus shelter and £12.652 for a wooden one, The figures were uncovered at a recent meeting by Lib Dem Councillor Barry Aspinell (Brentwood South).

Barry has been asking for an explanation for the ludicrously high cost of the bus shelters for years. When deciding how to allocate Local Highway Panel budgets, this is a significant commitment.

Reply from the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure

'I thank the member for Brentwood North for his question on costs of bus shelters.

I include below a breakdown of costs. It is important to note that there are additional costs for other items that are required to ensure that when it is installed, that it is a functioning shelter which is fit for purpose. There is an inclusion in the budget that allows for risk, and then any underspend is recovered by the local highways panel.

Furthermore, most sites require additional civils works such as building a concrete pad for a new shelter or raising the kerbs and footway for mobility impaired users.

Also, some sites require larger wooden shelters where there is high demand, so this adds to the cost.