Passengers hope for better bus shelters by winter
George Carden/BBCResidents in Eastbourne say they hope upgraded bus shelters will be installed before the winter, after the old shelters were removed.
Lewes and Eastbourne Councils announced 164 new shelters in April, with removal and more modern shelters to be installed across the district and in Eastbourne.
Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC) apologised for the delay which it said was due to a delay in the contractor's manufacturing process.
A spokesperson said new bus shelters are now being installed across the East Sussex town, with "multiple installations scheduled each week" which will "continue to gather pace over the coming weeks".
Residents near Waitrose in Eastbourne Old Town, where two bus shelters have been removed, said they were not happy with the delay.
Gillian Marsh said: "It's just a little bit inconvenient really, hopefully the new ones will be here before the bad weather. I've heard a few [complaining], especially the elderly are a bit concerned about what's going on. [They say] it's not good enough."
George Carden/BBCColin Webster added: "I'm a bit older and sometimes it's nice to have a seat if you have to wait 20 minutes."
Charlotte Stevens said: "They took the old ones away, there was nothing wrong with them.
"Winter's coming, a lot of elderly people shop in Waitrose. The old shelters were perfectly alright, it was just somewhere to shelter out of the cold and rain."
New shelters will be installed mostly in Eastbourne, but also Seaford, Newhaven and two in Lewes.
The new shelters will not cost the councils any money, but instead the contractor will make revenue from digital and printed advertising.
The new shelters are said to be in line with the latest accessibility, safety and sustainability standards which includes improved seating, accessibility for wheelchair users, protection from the elements and brail for people with visual impairments.
George Carden/BBCThey will also contain recyclable materials and will be fully recyclable at the end of their life, as well as having energy efficient lighting.
A spokesperson for EBC said: "We are sorry that all the new bus shelters are not yet in place and fully appreciate the inconvenience and difficulties this can cause for some people.
"Unfortunately, the contractor providing the new shelters reported a delay in their manufacture, hence the regrettable gap between the removal of old shelters and the arrival of their replacements.
"However, the new bus shelters are now being installed across the town, with multiple installations scheduled each week. This process will continue to gather pace over the coming weeks.
"The contractor understands that the installations must be treated as a top priority, and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure the new shelters are in place as soon as possible."