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"We need to keep Blackpool bus station" - says businessman
A BUSINESSMAN is demanding a bus station in Blackpool town centre after the existing terminal is converted into shops.
Blackpool Council revealed last month that Talbot Road Bus Station
multi-storey car park is to be retained but completely remodelled as part of the 250m Talbot Gateway redevelopment.
As part of the scheme, the ground floor – which is used partly as a car park and partly as a bus and coach terminus – will be turned into shops.
But Derek Scott, whose company Tanzo-Go operates the ticket booking office in the bus station, says the resort must have town centre facilities for coaches.
While Blackpool Transport buses stop on the edges of the bus station, operators including National Express and Stagecoach still use it as a pickup point for passengers.
Mr Scott said: "I support anything that will improve facilities for the people and visitors of Blackpool, but before we go there, we need to know that suitable arrangements are going to be made for those public transport services which currently use the bus station.
"No-one has told us what is going on which makes it very difficult for us to plan and invest in our business.
"We need to be close to a public transport hub and we want that to still be in the town centre. In the meantime, the bus station is filthy and there isn't even anywhere to sit for passengers.
"I would like to invest in our office but we don't know how long we are going to be here or what is going to happen."
Talbot Road Bus Station was to be demolished and the crumbling structure replaced in the original Talbot Gateway plans.
But it will now be renovated as the initial plans were deemed too costly.
A new transport interchange will be built at North Station.
A Blackpool Council spokesman said: "The plans for the Talbot Gateway have always been for the existing coach facilities to leave Talbot Road Bus Station and move to a new transport interchange at Blackpool North Station.
"We want to ensure that anyone who works or lives in this area is kept informed of the plans and possible timescales.
"We understand Mr Scott's concerns about the current conditions within the bus station
"However, it is simply not wise to invest a lot of money in improving the facilities when the whole building is due to be completely remodelled."
An exhibition is being held at St John's Church from November 4 to 7 where any interested parties can discuss the plans with ReBlackpool and the developer, Muse.
The Talbot Gateway scheme will see new council offices, a supermarket, shops, hotels and homes built on a 25 acre site around North Station.
Instead of being rebuilt, Talbot Road bus station car park will be stripped back to its framework which will be the skeleton for a new 720-space car park with shops on the ground floor.
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Weather for Blackpool
Thursday 24 May 2012
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