Depot's new roof improves buses

The roof of the Art Deco building covers 46,200 square feet

A new roof on a bus depot will make services more reliable, according to Norfolk's biggest bus operator.

First Eastern Counties is spending tens of thousands of pounds on repairs to the Blue Bus garage in Great Yarmouth.

High winds over the past two years damaged the asbestos roof, and in bad weather staff were not allowed inside on health and safety grounds.

Previously vehicles had to be moved out of the depot and were run from a coach park in order that services could run.

Protect staff

The work to replace the 46,200 sq ft (4,300sq m) roof will also mean buses are at lower risk of being damaged by falling debris in strong winds.

Depot manager Bob Richiardi said that bus services were not being affected by the works programme at the depot which was built in the 1930s to garage Great Yarmouth Corporation's fleet of trams and buses.

He added: "We did have those high winds and we had to move away from the site to the Beach Coach Station, so this complete roof replacement will make a lot of difference.

"There was part of the roof section that came down and that was completely closed off.

"That's why we took the precautions to protect our staff and of course the buses because we don't want debris falling on the vehicles."