Parking bays will be removed from the Hamilton terminal on Washington Street tomorrow in an effort to ease safety concerns of angry bus drivers.

They have been on a work-to-rule for more than a week — leading to service disruptions and cancellations — in protest at the public's insistence on using the depot as a thoroughfare.

Yesterday the Corporation of Hamilton announced it was taking away car and bike parking spaces along the road to make it less dangerous for buses getting in and out of the station.

However, loading and unloading bays will stay in place, and bus drivers are said to still be unhappy at the safety levels.

Corporation chief operating officer Ed Benevides said in a statement: "In order to improve safety at the Hamilton bus terminal, the Corporation of Hamilton will be removing the parking bays along Washington Street on Sunday.

"From Sunday, there will be no car or bike parking along that road. We regret the inconvenience to the public; however, this is a no-through road and we are doing this to improve safety for bus drivers and the public.

"The existing loading and unloading bays for trucks will remain but drivers of those vehicles are reminded that the loading zone is for loading and unloading only. Vehicles parked for extended periods in the loading bays will be ticketed accordingly."

Department of Public Transportation director Dan Simmons told The Royal Gazette the plan would work providing other measures are also put in place.

"I think it's a great idea. That by itself will help," said Mr. Simmons.

"We need to make sure we don't use it as a thoroughfare. We have a couple of other things — when they come to fruition, I will be a happy man."

One bus driving source told us the problem would not be solved because vehicles would still be running up and down to use the loading and unloading bays.

"You are still coming into the terminal. Nowhere else in the world would they have private vehicles coming into the terminal apart from buses," said the source.