COUNCILLOR Monica Morse says a new pick-up and drop-off location is needed for the Australia Wide Coaches daily service to Sydney because the current location is not safe.
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And Cr Morse has a spot in mind: the Bathurst Regional Council car park behind Bathurst McDonald’s.
Australia Wide Coaches’ decision to move its pick-up and drop-off location from the Acropole to the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre about three months ago drew criticism, but was defended last month by the company’s managing director Richard Dawes.
Mr Dawes said a survey the company had conducted with its travelling clients had found they wanted to be able to park all day at the pick-up point and said patronage had increased since the change had been made.
He also said the surface outside the visitor information centre was more even than the surface outside the Acropole, which made it easier to load wheelchairs on to the coach.
Cr Morse was at the visitor information centre on Thursday with three formerly regular Australia Wide passengers, two of whom say they haven’t used the service since the move from the Acropole was made.
Judy Upfold said she was dropped by the coach at the centre recently and was “frightened” because it was so dark.
“The person who was waiting for me was petrified,” she said. “They locked all the doors.”
Patricia Gannon and Nona Fisher both haven’t been back on the coach since it changed its arrangements.
“I was a regular on the bus, but I won't be any more,” Ms Gannon said.
Cr Morse said travellers’ opposition to the centre was the lack of lighting, seating and shelter and what she said was an uneven surface between the side of the highway and the visitor centre.
”The coach is also used for medical appointments. A lot of people on the bus are a bit wobbly [on their feet],” she said.
Cr Morse said the Bathurst McDonald’s car park was better lit and the 24-hour fast food restaurant offered toilets and heating.
Australia Wide Coaches’ Mr Dawes said last month he found it perplexing that the visitor centre would be considered so dangerous.