A PLANNING application for a bus garage in Oswestry, designed to make it a safer workplace, has been backed by Shropshire Council.

The plans, submitted in March, were for the installation of new pedestrian entrance, new lighting and two new cabins, at the Arriva Oswestry Depot in Salop Road, near the Penda Retail Park.

Permission was granted on Thursday, May 12 by Shropshire Council officers and a planning access statement submitted in March explained there were health and safety issues that had to be addressed.

"It is currently used as a bus maintenance facility, bus parking area and sign on and off area for drivers," it said.

"The current site is seen as not being ideal with lots of reverse parking for buses that can cause health and safety issues.

READ MORE:

"The proposals have been made to make the site have a better safety level.

"The additional works that are proposed are to make the depot have the minimal health and safety standards that Arriva require.

"We are proposing a new pedestrian gate that will be accessed of the main pavement.

"This will provide a dedicated pedestrian access to the site, so that anyone entering on foot would not need to walk through the main vehicle gates that could cause issues with vehicle movements.

"New cabins are proposed to be situated on the Western boundary – these will provide sign on facilities for drivers.

"This will mean that drivers entering through the new gate will have direct access to these cabins and will not have to walk through the yard area which may have buses moving.

"Dedicated walkways will be lined out on the existing slab to provide safe access to buses."

The statement also added that lighting had to be improved to improves health and safety.

Permission for the work to be carried out at the bus garage was delegated to Shropshire Council planning officer Janet Davies, without going to committee.

In her report, she said: "The proposed development is considered to accord with the requirements of the council's relevant adopted policies and no contrary opinions have been received that would require determination of the application by committee under the terms of the scheme of delegation to officers."

Before work is carried out, Arriva must submit a report on the lighting, carried out by a qualified engineer, to Shropshire Council.