A long-serving councillor wants one final wish granted before standing down after almost 25 years – a new bus shelter.

Brighton and Hove city councillor Bob Carden, who has represented North Portslade since 1991, said he deals with more phone calls about providing cover for elderly passengers in one corner of his ward than anything else.

But after years of being knocked back, Coun Carden, who will step down at the next election, has made one final plea to officials to install a structure at the junction of New England Rise and Thornhill Rise.

The Labour member even said he would consider using some of his own money to fund the scheme as a tribute to his much-loved wife Merle, who died in March.

Speaking in a recent Town Hall meeting, Coun Carden, 75, said he has been trying to get the shelter built “for years”.

He said: “When my wife died back in March I sent a letter to the head of transport saying I was prepared to sponsor something on that site.

“But no, I was told it’s provided by the contractors that put the bus shelters in.

“Before I go in about another 18 months time there is a chance we can do it for the elderly people in that area.

“I get more phone calls about that bus shelter than anything else in the city.

“I’m fed up with trying and getting the same old rubbish answers that we have no money, we can’t do it etc.”

He asked fellow councillors to “please do it and I’ll retire happy”.

In response, Pete West, chairman of the council’s environment and transport committee, said: “My understanding is that actually it’s too narrow in that location to have a shelter without it compromising pedestrian access, which may force disabled people to go into the road.

“It isn’t a particularly heavily-used bus stop and along with ensuring a safe location we also have to make sure they are put in areas where they are more heavily used, so providing more benefit to the greatest number of people.”

Coun Carden said he was prepared to raise the issue at every council meeting until he steps down in May 2015.