HILPERTON homeowner Stephen Mitchell has accused Wiltshire Council’s highway officers of showing no common sense, after discovering bus stop markings in front of his driveway.

Mr Mitchell, who has lived with his wife Heather in Horse Road for 22 years, said he returned from the town centre on Saturday to find that council workers had painted new lines for a bus stop that covered half of his driveway.

His home is next to the roundabout junction for the new Hilperton Relief Road and Mr and Mrs Mitchell had expected the bus stop to be moved once the new road had been built.

However, rather than move the bus stop and shelter to a more suitable location, the lines have been painted so that any buses or coaches stopping will block part of Mr Mitchell’s driveway.

“It is absolutely ridiculous; those lines should never have been painted there,” Mr Mitchell told the Wiltshire Times. “When I came back from town on Saturday they had just finished the lines and I couldn’t believe it.

“I went into County Hall first thing on Monday and showed a picture to one of the highways team and he said that it was not right. I’ve also shown the builders making the road and they said the bus stop should never have been put there.

“If I come from the direction of the roundabout and attempt to turn into my drive at the moment there is no way I would be able to get in if a coach or bus is stopped in those lines.

“That would then mean that the traffic from both ways will be stuck while the bus is stopping, causing traffic chaos. Not only are the lines covering part of my drive, the bus stop is far too close to the junction for the roundabout.”

The long-awaited relief road, which is due to be completed in October, is currently being constructed by Bristlewand on behalf of Persimmon Homes, after planning permission was granted in 2006.

Mr Mitchell is concerned that accidents will be inevitable if the bus stop remains where it is once the relief road is open, especially after highways officers controversially recommended that the speed limit be set at 50mph.

“It is clear for all to see that the bus stop is too close to the roundabout and instead of moving it completely they decided to paint the lines across my property,” said Mr Mitchell.

“They have shown absolutely no common sense. My wife has not been well recently and if I needed to take her to the hospital there is a chance I would be obstructed and it will only get worse when the schools are back.”

The Wiltshire Times has contacted Wiltshire Council for comment.