A BRAMHOPE bus stop is set to make history - as the first in Leeds to be moved to allow a street cleaner to get behind it.

The stop, opposite Golden Acre Park, is a magnet for wet, dirty leaves because it is impossible for mechanical street cleaners to get around it.

But now it is to be moved - thanks to a nearby resident who has taken it upon himself to look after the interests of bus passengers.

The stop, in Leeds Road, has become the first in 14,000 throughout Leeds to be moved because falling leaves could not be reached by people with mechanical street cleaners.

Community-minded Richard Perkins, whose home is directly behind the stop, says people getting off buses ended up knee-deep in wet soggy leaves.

So he enlisted the help of bus company Metro and Bramhope Parish Council to see if something could be done.

Mr Perkins, who has also built a seat for waiting passengers, said: "If anybody got off at the bus stop their shoes were covered in soggy leaves. The pole is in the middle of the footpath. I thought it would be a simple matter to move it so that the mechanical footpath sweepers, could get past."

Mr Perkins also went to Bramhope Parish Council, whose councillors have already cleared the leaves by hand - and brush.

A spokeswoman for Metro said: "We received a request from a local resident because the street cleaner could not get behind the bus stop to sweep up. A site meeting was held and on this occasion Metro was able to accede to this request. Work should be carried out in six to eight weeks." She was unable to say how much it would cost.

Mr Perkins, who is retired, has also built a seat at the bus stop as it had no shelter.

He said: "A piece of our wall was falling down a little and I was rebuilding it. I have put a seat in the wall so that people waiting for the bus can sit down. It started off as one of these picnic tables. I cut it up and made it into a seat.

"It seems to have been quite well received because the buses are not very frequent."

l RIGHT: Richard Perkins and Bramhope Parish Council clerk Janet Sunderland clear away some of the leaves from behind the bus stop. (042-05AH)

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