COMMUTERS were left confused when workers laying gas mains at Birchencliffe decided to put a bus stop out of action.
People waiting for the 503 from Huddersfield to Halifax yesterday morning watched bemused as a worker strode across Halifax Road and put a black bin liner over the bus stop sign outside the Grey Horse pub near Ainley Top.
One woman said: “The man said the bus couldn’t stop there because it was blocking the road and following traffic could not overtake.”
It left commuters wondering if the 503 had been re-routed – as it has on the way into Huddersfield – or would continue up Halifax Road, but not stop at the Grey Horse.
However, a spokesman for West Yorkshire passenger transport executive Metro said the bus stop had NOT been suspended and was still in use.
He said: “We have been liaising with the contractors and we have made it clear that none of the stops on Halifax Road should be suspended.
“The bin liner has been removed and buses will continue to stop there.”
A spokesman for United Utilities, which is carrying out the work, said workers had acted due to health and safety fears.
Now the company was requesting the bus stop be moved temporarily.
The spokesman said workers were concerned about the dangers of traffic building up close to where they were using digging equipment.
Work to replace a gas main on busy Halifax Road got under way this week and is expected to take three months.
