Description
A local business owner is at a loss to explain who moved the bus stop on the main street in Midleton.
Mr Butler arrived at his chemist's shop at number 78 Main Street one afternoon to discover that a bus stop had been installed directly outside his business premises. He says the new bus stop location had a damaging impact on trade; the effect on his business was disastrous. The bus stop remained in place for approximately a month.
In an effort to have it removed, Mr Butler wrote to the town clerk outlining his objections and threatening to take legal action if the bus stop was not relocated. The council replied to say it was not responsible. Direct approaches to council members met with the same answer. According to Mr Butler, almost everyone he contacted denied responsibility, with only one councillor showing any interest in resolving the issue.
As far as I was concerned, democracy was dead on the Main Street of Midleton.
After weeks of arguments, complaints and confusion, Mr Butler arrived at his shop one morning to find that the white road markings for the bus stop had been covered over with tar and gravel. The bus stop had disappeared and remained absent for roughly two weeks.
The mystery deepened when workmen returned one afternoon and reinstated the bus stop in exactly the same position.
After five weeks of asking questions, Mr Butler is still unable to establish who had authority over the bus stop and who had ordered its removal and reinstatement.
"As far as I’m concerned, it could be Mr Magoo."
Mr Butler remains no closer to finding out who is really in charge.
This episode of 'Hall's Pictorial Weekly' was broadcast on 27 October 1971.