WHEN is a bus station not a bus station?

Colchester’s temporary bus station was closed last November and replaced with a £2 million facility at Osborne Street.

The venue is supposed to make way for a school playing field and the latest phase of the St Botolph’s regeneration project, which began with the neighbouring Firstsite arts centre.

But nearly six months on, operator First has started parking its buses in the space vacated by former bus stops, while a 12-month agreement to turn the old waiting rooms into an arts venue and cafe will shortly be signed.

Peter Kay, chairman of Colchester Bus Users’ Group, said the only thing Colchester’s former bus station now missed were passengers.

See Wednesday's Gazette for the full story