The department introduced new bus routes earlier this month, resulting in the need to relocate several bus shelters.

In addition, several bus shelters will need to be built to accommodate the new routes.

In bus region number one alone, the cost of relocating and/or building bus shelters is expected to cost $170,000 and in bus region 4 the cost will exceed $12,000.

The council has previously written to the department requesting that it shoulder the cost for relocating and/ or building new bus shelters but as yet has not received a reply.

``Residents who travel on buses have had to adjust their routines following the introduction of new bus routes, with many being adversely affected and having to make major changes, especially our elderly community,'' Councillor Lowles said.

``Clearly it's the responsibility of the department to foot the bill for the relocation and/or construction of new bus shelters or it can justify to our ratepayers why we're forced to impose this cost on them.

'`This would mean that even those people who don't use buses as a form of transport will also be slugged the bill. I will not have the people of Blacktown City further inconvenienced.''