HRH The Queen could be asked to open new bus shelter

The suggestion has been put forward by residents bemused by the up and down saga of the replacement shelter.

A larger version of the shelter opposite the Holt Superstore was built last year and quickly demolished after becoming known locally as ‘the gallows’ because of its huge size.

The first £10,000 shelter on the main road through the village and close to the National Trust’s Court Gardens was dismantled because it was too high.

One resident said back in August last year: “It was huge and was affectionately known to the village as ‘the gallows’.

“It caused a lot of hilarity because it was so huge. You could almost get a bus underneath it because it was so big.”

A smaller £10,000 replacement shelter has just opened but not to universal acclaim by villagers who have given the new structure mixed reviews.

One villager, Martin Moyes, who runs the Spotted in Holt social media page, said: “There is a great deal of bemusement why it took so long and why it has been so extremely expensive, but the reactions are generally favourable with some notable exceptions.

“It isn’t located where the buses actually stop! As it is a request stop that could be a bit awkward when trying to get the buses to stop.

“The side panels are very small indeed, affording little protection from anything but perfectly vertical rain.

“So we have some problems with both “bus” and with “shelter” and the people on the other side of the road have no bus shelter at all.

“There are the inevitable mixed reactions to the unusual style, but general agreement that having a bus shelter is better than no bus shelter.

“It has been proposed that it could become a Platinum Jubilee icon for Holt, with Her Majesty being invited to “open” it. Even if she doesn’t come, we may still have a light-hearted opening ceremony.”

The shelter was built by contractors working for Stonewood Partnerships, which is converting The Tannery in Holt into flexible office space for up to 100 tenants and building 43 new homes.

It was built with Section 106 funds. After the first shelter was demolished, Stonewood offered to pay for the second shelter to be built, making a total cost of £20,000 spent on its provision.

The shelter replaces a previous bus shelter close to the Grade 2 listed former Three Lions public house and has been relocated further along the road.

Stonewood Partnerships’ operations director Gavin Calthrop said: “Stonewood Partnerships is delighted to hand over the completed bus shelter to the villagers of Holt after months of ensuring we get the design and build absolutely right.

“As everyone is aware, the construction sector has experienced delays in the supply of some building materials and this has been a factor in the time it has taken to complete the project.

“However, we are now delighted Wiltshire Council’s highways department has given the bus shelter its approval and has been welcomed by Holt Parish Council.

“We’ve worked closely with both councils on the design to ensure the shelter meets the village’s requirements and is in keeping with its surroundings.

“Stonewood has met the full cost of the design, build and installation so that the village now has a shelter that is far above the minimum standard required by the original Section 106 agreement within the planning permission for refurbishment and development of The Tannery.

“Alongside our sister company Stonewood Builders, we are continuing at a steady pace with our conversion of The Tannery into 100 workspace units and 43 homes, most of which have now been reserved. We are proud that, like the bus shelter, The Tannery will be a lasting legacy for the village.”

Holt parish councillor Steve Siddall said: “We’ve been working with Stonewood on this for a while and we are very pleased with the result and I know the majority of people in the village are pleased with it too.

“I have been campaigning for years to get rid of the old bus shelter and this new one has made a huge difference to the listed Three Lions building near it.

“It’s a statement piece in what is creating a new village centre with the shop and all of the new businesses moving into The Tannery.”