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10 Jan 08Solar Powered Bus Shelter
Borough of Poole has unveiled a state-of-the-art, solar powered bus shelter at Upton Country Park.
Solar power will be used to light up the shelter and sensors will ensure the lights only come on at night and when it is occupied, meaning there will be no wasted energy. The new bus shelter is also made with wood from sustainable resources meaning it is in keeping with its natural surroundings.
The new bus shelter not only serves the public but also the staff who work at Upton Country Park. The Peacock Tea Rooms, situated in the park, provides work experience for people with learning difficulties. It was these members of staff, supported by Poole Forum 
, who campaigned for the shelter, by writing letters to the council and attending relevant committee meetings. This bus route provides them with an easy and convenient way to get to and from work and the bus shelter provides a safe and dry place for them to wait for the bus.
The Wilts & Dorset service 128 from Poole to Upton Country Park operates a direct bus Mondays to Saturdays, leaving Poole Bus Station at 09:30 and 12:30 via Sterte, Oakdale (Christopher Crescent), Waterloo (Sopers Lane) and Creekmoor, before arriving at the new bus shelter in the car park of Upton Country Park. Buses leave from the new shelter at 12:53 and 16:35.
Cllr Mike White, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transportation, said: “We are so lucky to have this fantastic Country Park close by, which used to be inaccessible for many people without a car. I know many residents living in Creekmoor, Waterloo and Oakdale who love gardens but haven’t been to Upton Country Park for many years. The provision of the 128 service with the added facility of the new shelter will enable them to visit regularly and enjoy the changing seasons throughout the year.”
Julian McLaughlin, Head of Transportation Services, said: ”Bus passenger numbers overall in Poole are increasing and services such as the 128 are becoming ever more popular. Increasing numbers of motorists are now using buses, instead of cars, to visit the park and this will reduce pressures on the car park too.”
Upton Country Park is managed by Borough of Poole and offers more than 100 acres of woodland, parkland and shoreline which is open and free to the public all year round. The bus service to the park began in April 2006.
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