A LOCAL councillor has expressed fears for the safety of elderly travellers using Lancaster's new bus station.

Cllr David Kerr claims that pensioners are wandering between and behind buses as they pull in and reverse out of the new station's loading bays.

He says there is a lot of confusion about how to get into the new bus station and that literally dozens of people a day are putting themselves in danger by wandering around no go areas.

Cllr Kerr went to see the situation for himself and said: "I promptly went to the bus station and whilst there for a short while I spotted five elderly people who were walking around the bus bay areas unaware of the danger.

A member of staff, who was assisting the confused passengers, pointed out to me that he assists five to 10 people per hour away from the bus bay areas back to safety every day. He can only patrol one side of the station at any given time."

During the planning application for the bus station, Cllr Kerr expressed concerns that bus movements would put the general public at risk. Having chatted to staff working at the station he claims there are a number of things that need to be done to improve safety.

He added: "Better signs showing the entrance in and out of the station would help to alleviate the problem. There was confusion in the waiting area because people sit on a bench waiting for the bus and are unaware they are at the wrong bay number.

"Other suggestions include putting stickers on the doors to confirm to passengers the correct bay for their bus."