East Cannington resident Des Bowers has raised concerns over a bus stop bench directly outside Gibbs Street Primary School, which he claims becomes dangerously hot under direct sunlight, posing a risk to unsuspecting students and commuters.
As the bench has recently been covered in advertising presumed to be aluminium, it has “turned into a frying pan, trapping heat”, according to Mr Bowers, who said he had measured temperatures of 71 degrees on the seat on a day when the temperature in East Cannington was just 27 degrees.
Mr Bowers believes it has gone beyond being a slight problem and is now completely dangerous for the children who use the bus stop before and after school.
“It’s only going to get worse as we head into summer and start having several days over 35 degrees, into the 40s,” Mr Bowers said.
“They should put a sign warning children or anyone using the seat of the dangers of heat; someone is going to burn themselves on it; it’s just not on; it needs to be removed as soon as possible; it’s scorching.”
With another 110 bus stop benches featuring advertising in the City of Canning, Mr Bowers is worried this isn’t the only one that could pose a safety risk, but he isn’t sure his complaints to the council and Public Transport Authority (PTA) are getting anywhere.
“I pass on my concerns, and while they and I are very cordial, the complaints just go in a cycle; they just wash their hands of it,” he said.
“If it’s not removed soon, I’ll definitely have to put a danger tape on it or something.”
After some confusion as to who is responsible for the bench, the PTA said the bench is the city’s responsibility.
“The PTA does not have any commercial arrangements in place for advertising on bus stop infrastructure, including seats,” a PTA spokesperson said.
“It is the local government who is responsible for the provision of seats and shelters, subsidised by the PTA.”
Speaking to The Examiner Newspapers, Mayor Patrick Hall confirmed the city had received a complaint about the suitability of the bus seat provided at the location and the lack of a bus shelter at the stop, and clarified who is responsible for the condition of the bench.
“The City of Canning has a contractual arrangement in place for the maintenance, renewal and provision of street furniture, including bus shelters, street bench seats and street litter bin enclosures at no cost to the City, in exchange for exclusive advertising rights,” Mayor Hall said.
“If a bus stop bench is not in a suitable condition as required by the contract, the City may request the contractor to modify the bench or remove it from the City’s road network.”
Des Bowers said there used to be a bus shelter at the site, but it was never replaced after being removed to accommodate roadworks in the area, and the lone bench was only recently installed.
“Before the new seat was put there, students were sitting in the gutter with their legs on the road, and they once again are having to do that as the bench is too hot on some days.”
“I’m not going to stand by and let other children sit on those kinds of seats, just because some money is trying to be saved.”
According to the City of Canning, a bus shelter is expected to be installed at the stop on Gibbs Street within the 2024/25 financial year.
