The managing director of a bus company has responded to concerns by hundreds of residents of a Cornish town about his decision to get rid of a bus stop which has operated for decades. He said a bus crushing a bench while people were sat on it was one of the reasons for the removal of the bus stop.

More than 500 residents have signed a petition to save the Safe Harbour stop outside the pub of the same name in Fowey. They have aired concerns that a replacement bus stop at Hanson Drive is less accessible to many in the town, is less safe as there’s no shelter and has no seating or live travel updates.

The area in front of the Safe Harbour Inn, at the junction of Lostwithiel Street, Cobbs Well and Brown’s Hill, has been used as a transport hub for well over 100 years, with horse-drawn coaches picking up passengers before the advent of the motorised bus.

Fowey resident Gretchen Viehmann, who was one of those who started the petition, said last week: “There is a natural logic to the use of this area, a widening of the road momentarily that allows people to turn around, to pick up and drop off passengers and, yes, as a terminus for the bus services into Fowey, where passengers are able to easily and safely walk down to the town centre. So why has it suddenly become an issue?”

The boss of bus company Go South West has now responded to locals’ concerns and explained why he made the decision.

Richard Stevens said: “First and foremost, I would like to assure you that the safety and well-being of pedestrians, our drivers and passengers remain paramount in our considerations. I apologise for the discomfort and distress this has caused residents.

“The decision to discontinue the bus service at Safe Harbour Fowey was not made lightly and was based on a comprehensive assessment of several factors, including safety considerations. While Safe Harbour Fowey has indeed been a long-standing terminus for bus turning, it is important to note that the safety landscape and regulatory requirements have evolved over the years.”

He said the bus company had experienced numerous incidents since 2020 involving near misses and more seriously crushing the bench outside the pub on multiple occasions. “The final occasion there were people sitting on the bench. This is an unacceptable risk,” said Mr Stevens.

“Therefore, the primary driver behind this decision is to enhance the overall safety of all people. Safe Harbour Fowey, while a convenient location, presented certain challenges, including limited manoeuvrability for buses, congestion, and difficulties in safely reversing the buses at the terminus. The mental duress on our drivers and pedestrians in the vicinity of the terminus was a significant concern.

“The decision to move to an alternative location for passenger pick-up and drop-off was made after a thorough safety assessment, considering the safety of both passengers and the public. The new location, whilst causing undisputed inconvenience for some people due to the increased distance over Safe Harbour Fowey, provides a safer environment for bus operations, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring passenger safety during boarding and alighting.”

Mr Stevens is due to attend a site meeting with Fowey’s Cornwall councillor Andy Virr next month to discuss the issue.