Dunfermline bus station users are being left to wait in “freezing conditions,” according to one user.
Ian Lamond, who lives in the town, said automatic doors to the station’s waiting room were being left in an open position, letting in blasts of cold air.
“I have recently had to raise with Fife Council concerns regarding conditions within the new bus station in Dunfermline which affect public comfort,” he said.
“During the coldest of weather, especially in the evenings, many of the bus boarding area automatic doors are being allowed to remain in the open position for hours at a time.
“I have been advised that supervisory staff should be resetting these doors so as to maintain a sheltered environment within what should be a fully enclosed main building.
“Sadly, despite these assurances, at times half of the access doors are regularly still being left in the open position in the evenings by bus station management.”
Mr Lamond added that he believed a visitor to the bus station had highlighted chilly conditions in the waiting area last year in The Courier.
“Sadly, it appears that the same freezing conditions are still being experienced by members of the public needing to use this important public facility,” he added.
That’s not the only door issue Mr Lamond has with the station.
He said, “I have also had to raise concerns with Fife Council regarding the fact that one of the two main entrance doors to the bus station has been allowed to remain in a state of disrepair for nearly three months.
“This means that members of the public entering or leaving the bus station during busy times regularly encounter bottleneck conditions, with people wishing to leave having to jostle with people wishing to enter via the only remaining working door.”
He claimed his latest request asking for an update on the faulty door went unanswered “because of pressure of work or sheer ignorance”.Claim refutedHowever, that claim was refuted by lead officer Tony McRae, who told The Courier, “The council has responded to Mr Lamond regarding these issues on several occasions, the most recent email being sent to him earlier today.”
Mr McRae said there were occasions when the automatic doors will be opened by waiting or passing users of the bus station, and he was afraid that this was unavoidable.
“There are also the odd occasions when the flow of people through them is so heavy that the doors revert to a fail-safe position of open, which requires the doors to be reset by the supervisors.
“While the bus station concourse is not heated-the cafe and toilets are-it does provide an internal waiting environment providing shelter from the elements.”
As to the broken doors, he said the solution was in hand.
“With regards to the automated doors that lead out into Queen Anne Street, it is unfortunate that there have been particular problems with one of these doors,” he said.
“I can advise, however, that a part has been ordered and I would hope to have the door repaired within the next few weeks.
“It is also worth pointing out that there are fully functioning doors adjacent to this one as well as the remainder of the other doors within the bus station which remain fully operational.”