Stagecoach Triangle route restored after vandals smash bus windows in Westbrook Farm, Herne Bay
12:56, 30 November 2020
updated: 13:47, 30 November 2020
Part of a popular Stagecoach route has been restored after it was declared a no-go zone.
Yobs had smashed bus windows four nights in one week on services running on the Triangle route, which travels between Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay.
The mindless vandals are thought to have shot the glass with an air rifle in the Westbrook Farm area of Herne Bay.
"Disappointed" Stagecoach bosses had said it was now a no-go zone in the evenings.
But now they have confirmed that a full evening Triangle bus service has been restored.
A post on the company's website states: "We were disappointed to have to temporarily suspend buses in the evenings; it wasn’t a decision we made lightly but we won’t tolerate attacks on our staff or the people that use our buses.
"Serving the community is what we’re all about and it pains us that we’ve been unable to do that.
"We’ve been encouraged by the strength of local support for the restoration of the service and we’re committed to working closely with Kent Police and other community groups and the local councils to prevent the negative actions of a few impacting on everyone else in the community."
The post added that the full Triangle route will resume on a trial basis.
It also said from today they will resume serving Coulter Road area of Greenhill on the late afternoon and early evening six route.
An attack on November 14 was the latest of five similar incidents seen across the Westbrook Farm and Greenhill areas in recent weeks. It led to Stagecoach bosses suspending the service in the Westbrook Farm area from 6pm onwards.
Buses were running via a diversion between Greenhill and Tankerton along the Old Thanet Way.
Each one has caused damage to the buses, but the latest incident left the bus with four shattered windows.
It is understood one passenger was travelling on board the top deck of the bus at the time - but no injuries were reported.
A spokesman for the force said police were contacted on three occasions over reports bus windows had been damaged between November 11 and 14.
The first incident happened in Sea Street at about 10pm on November 11. The second incident took place in Greenhill Road, near the junction with Hawks Road, shortly after 6pm on November 13.
The third incident happened in Whitstable Road, near Westbrook Lane, at 10.55pm on November 14.
Officers are carrying out inquiries in the area and have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Witnesses should contact the police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/204610/20, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or using the anonymous online form.
To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here
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