Buses making our lives hell, say Castle Vale pensioners

Dec 27 2008 by Christina Savvas, Birmingham Mail

A RETIRED couple have threatened legal action after claiming their lives were being ruined by queues of bendy buses blocking their drive.

Pensioners Ted and Iris Whan, of Stornoway Road, Castle Vale, alleged they were awoken daily at 4am by the sound of engines as buses used a lay-by outside.

They said they often could not get in and out of their garage and had even faced abuse from drivers.

A new route taking National Express West Midlands buses away from their home was trialled after they lodged more than 300 complaints. But now the buses are back.

National Express West Midlands, which used to be called Travel West Midlands, said it was working to solve the problem.

But Mr Whan, aged 77, a former worker at Hardy Spencer said: “It happens every day. The buses overlook our garden, overrun the drive, I can’t get my car out when I need to and if there was an emergency it would be extremely dangerous. When I do complain to the drivers I just get abuse.