Beryl to install new bays in St Nicholas ward, Worcester

Two Beryl bike bays in St Nicholas, Worcester were damaged, leaving riders in the area without a designated bay to either pick up or drop off a Beryl bike.

A spokesperson for Beryl said: "We are working with our local authority partners - Worcester City Council - to deliver two new bays in the St Nicholas area and ensure the scheme remains accessible to as many people as possible.

"A spate of vandalism meant we had to take immediate action and suspend the bay while we investigate ways to help prevent any possible further damage.

"The bay is clearly marked in the app as not in use while riders were also informed via in-app message.

"It’s always disappointing to see the results of vandalism or antisocial behaviour and we would appeal to anyone misusing the bikes to please respect them and ensure they are available for other people to use.

"We will continue to work with West Mercia Police to investigate any incidents of theft or criminal damage and retain the option to suspend and ban or remove accounts for improper use of the scheme.

"You can report incidents of vandalism or antisocial behaviour involving Beryl e-bikes quickly and easily to the customer support team - by phone on +44 020 3003 5044, between 7am and 9pm Monday to Sunday, by email at support@beryl.cc or through the Beryl app.

"For emergencies, please contact 999."

Beryl's statement comes after Worcester city councillor Sarah Murray, who represents St Nicholas ward, had called on the city council to get the bays replaced.

Speaking last week, Cllr Murray said: "It’s unacceptable that St Nicholas residents are left without a dedicated bike bay due to an incident of vandalism.

"I’ve been working to get this addressed, and the lack of response from the council is deeply disappointing.

"Not only are residents missing out on a vital community resource, but they’re also being unfairly penalised because of unclear markings that should have been removed."