A COUNCIL “blunder” has seen highways workers paint a bus stop on the wrong side of the road, at a stop that has apparently not been used for more than two years.

The markings appeared around two weeks ago in Long Cross Lane, Hatch Warren, on the opposite side of the road to where the bus stop is located.

Bob Penney noticed the apparent error whilst out for a walk.

The 55-year-old, of Paxton Close, Hatch Warren, said: “I was quite surprised.

“I went out with my wife for an early morning walk and we go via a cut through to Long Cross Lane and there it was, painted on the road and we thought, how bizarre.”

The father-of-two, who is a director of website development and search engine optimisation business Smart Mobile Websites, added: “It’s next to a bus stop that hasn’t been used for years. The new bus stop was put in about a month ago but the bus route has been running there for quite a while.”

He accused the council of “wasting money” and said the bus stop on the side of the road where the markings have been painted has not been in use since February 2014.

Basingstoke Gazette:

He added: “Maybe the council thought the confusion might be effective as a bizarre traffic calming scheme. I thought it was so amusing.”

However, despite a sign next to the markings stating that the bus stop is no longer in use, Hampshire County Council told The Gazette said the route is still in use.

The spokeswoman added: “The markings have been repainted here as part of a programme to refresh existing road markings in the area. Some bus stop markings are at stops that are used less frequently now than when the estate was originally designed, but are still used sometimes for unscheduled services such as school contracts, which is why they have been repainted.”

The council did not explain why there is a sign next to the markings stating that the stop has not been in use since February 2014.