A party venue, extra large greenhouse or a storage building for toy vehicles were just few of the possible uses ‘eBayers’ suggested for an unwanted bus shelter auctioned for £1,800 on the internet this week.
The 26-metre long bespoke shelter, which is currently behind Boots in St Andrews Street South, Bury St Edmunds, needs to be removed before work starts on the Cattle Market redevelopment in the autumn. St Edmundsbury took the unusual step of advertising it on the popular internet site eBay after inquiries failed to find a new use for it.
The quirky item quickly became a talking point during the seven-day auction, which opened on 4 July and closed last night with the winning bid of £1,800. In total, the advert attracted just under 14,000 hits and 32 bids. It also provoked a range of questions and comments from ‘eBayers’ using the site. These included:
“Quite like the look of this bus shelter – it would make a great greenhouse for my tomato plants. Could you please advise me if it would be possible to post and how much it would be to post to Hartlepool?”
“I think it is great that you are selling this. I hope you get lots of money for it!”
“This is brilliant! How much for shipping to the USA?”
“Just wanted to say congratulations on having the initiative to auction this rather than simply bulldoze it. Well done!”
“Does the bin come included with the shelter? If so, will you be able to empty it first?”
Although it is not yet clear what the new owner plans to do with the shelter, they will need to take it down and remove it by early September to allow archaeological investigations to take place ahead of the Cattle Market redevelopment.
ENDS
ISSUED BY LIZ HEARNSHAW, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033. liz.hearnshaw@stedsbc.gov.uk
