PENSIONERS in Fladbury say they are being left out in the cold after parish councillors turned down their request for a bus shelter in the village.

A group of residents, mainly from The Chantry, asked the parish council to put a shelter at the new bus stop near the butcher's shop in Church Street.

Money had been set aside from this year's village walkabout towards the project but eight of the nine parish councillors were opposed to the scheme and it has been rejected.

Shirley Martin said: "Apparently it doesn't matter about the elderly, the infirm and the young parents. Although it's in what they call a sensitive area there are a lot of items there and the group of elderly people I am representing feel that the bus shelter would not deter any more from the view that's already there and it would be a benefit to the users.

Parish council chairman Bill Llewellyn, the one councillor in favour of the bus shelter, explained: "The bus stop was traditionally outside the shop which is now a hairdressers but because cars park there the buses stopped further along outside a private house. Worcestershire County Council re-located the bus stop about 12 months ago and a number of people came to the conclusion, by adding two and two together and getting five, that there would be a shelter but that was never discussed."

Parish councillor Geoff Mills said: "I just think it's wrong that a modern bus shelter should be placed between a church and a Georgian Grade II listed building in a conservation area. The residents that seem to be complaining want the bus stop moved nearer to their bungalows. The parish councillors represent the whole of the village and have to keep everyone happy."

The walkabout money has been diverted to other projects in Fladbury and Wyre Piddle.