The City of Greater Bendigo passed concept plans to widen footpaths, install a live timetabling system and create a new shelter in Hargreaves Mall on Wednesday night. 

Dave Milward of Mountain Gifts said the changes were the “best thing that could happen”. 

“We have a lot of trouble with kids out the front, standing in doorways, not letting customers in,” he said. 

“These changes should keep the kids away from the shopfront and having the footpaths widened will be good, too. 

“You get people in wheelchairs coming along the street and the paths just aren’t wide enough.

“It’s been getting worse over the two years we’ve been here as more people use the buses.” 

Bus user Elaine Mitchell said it would make waiting a lot easier, and Judi Holmes of Rose Emporium said she was glad the store was located away from the main problem area. 

Clarissa Monaghan said catching the bus would be made a lot simpler by live timetabling. 

“That would be good,” she said. 

“It’s hard waiting here with little kids and the seats get hot in summer because they’re in the boiling sun all day.”

Ve Nguyen of T&C Nails said she had also had problems with people crowding her shopfront and welcomed the upgrades. 

Council will seek to implement the live timetabling system as soon as possible and seek funds in next year’s budget for streetscape works.