Concerned company boss Neil Fautley has called on Devizes Town Council to install a replacement bus shelter in the Market Place because he fears for passengers’ safety.

The glass shelter outside his business, Hallmark Flooring, blew over in strong winds in January, leaving only a blue bench.

“We have seen elderly people and children fall off the back of the bench into the road,” said Mr Fautley.

“They have not been injured, but God forbid that someone should fall into the road when a bus or a car drives past. There could be a fatality. Even though the road from the shelter past us and the Black Swan is no entry cars still drive down it.”

Mr Fautley said he was frustrated at the time it was taking to replace the shelter.

He raised his concerns with the town council some weeks ago.

The bench was also being used by skateboarders, said Mr Fautley The town council, which owns the shelter, agreed in April to pay for a new one after its insurers told them its policy covered only impact damage.

But there has been a further delay because the council is in consultation about the design.

Simon Fisher, deputy town clerk, told the Gazette: “We have been approached by Kennet Passengers as they would like to be consulted upon the design of the shelter.

“We feel it is appropriate to do that and we are in the process of organising it. The shelter has to be fairly similar to the others in the town but we need to see whether we make any changes to the design.

“The bench has a flat top and is perfectly adequate to sit on. Our prime concern is to have a shelter installed for when the weather turns inclement.”