CALLS have been made for Colchester to have a new and improved bus station.
Colchester Council leader Paul Dundas says the current station in Osborne Street, which opened in November 2012 at a cost of £2 million, is “inadequate”.
He explained he is now drawing up an ambitious masterplan for Colchester’s town centre which will see a dramatic overhaul of its transport infrastructure.
Mr Dundas, however, said it could be tricky as the town is as a “unique” place due to scattered ownership of land by Colchester Council and Essex County Council.
He told the Gazette: “What I would like to see is some sort of transport interchange included in any plans, and what I mean by this is I would like to see a new bus station.
“This town needs a proper interchange as the current one in Osborne Street is inadequate.
“It has never really worked and I would certainly like to see a new one reflected in the plan for a better transport method.
“With the potential arrival of a rapid transit system in the coming years it makes total sense for me to see it all linked up.”
Mr Dundas, who is also an accountant, called on Essex County Council to work with Colchester Council to deliver a sparkling future for the town.
He added: “This will need joined up thinking as the county council controls transport and owns parcels of land in Colchester.
“We have bits of ownership and so do they, so we would like to see them all joined up.”
Debate has raged since the start of the millennium over Colchester bus station’s location since it was first suggested the former site, in Queen Street, should no longer host it.
Read more: REVEALED: The latest restaurant to join £65m leisure park in Colchester
The Save Our Bus Station campaign was launched in October 2004 and more than 20,000 people signed a petition against plans to move the station from Queen Street in 2005.
However, in November 2012, the Osborne Street bus station opened but is far smaller than its predecessor.
Today, the Queen Street station is vacant but a creative hub, including offices, is soon to open at the site.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel