Bus station "to be redeveloped within months" (From Gazette)

Ahh so not the playing ground for the school that was recently touted as the reason for the buses having to leave the site?
The plot thickens, well at least something does.

doesnt mean its not the school does it? Could be it has to be started by June to be ready for the start of the next academic year

The school never used the land that was taken for the VAF. The grass used to stand shoulder high. The head teacher of the school said she didn't need the land that CBC/ECC were giving her.

Yeah, I'm also confused how the area will pan out.

When the VAF opened last Autumn it was possible to walk around most of its South facing curve.

Then this fence appeared which was aligned to the existing brick wall and that put a stop to any access to the meadow area - which I assume may be something to do with the school.

I saw a representative from Firstsite strutting around with her plans the other day as she gave a guided tour of the site to two bewildered 50 somethings.

As she passed us she waved her arms around and said something to the effect of 'Oh, this is coming down ( bus park cafe building etc ) and that's coming down ( I think she meant the block where the hotel is supposed to be going ) we are going to open up the whole area'.

The couple who she addressed seemed utterly confused and did not appear to share her delight in the demolition process.

If I may say, fly by night members of the quasi art world have been given a green light to take centre stage in ******* up our town.

Hanging out around the VAF for the odd 20 minutes a day does offer high entertainment value.

Recent highlights include a van driving into ( and knocking over ) 2 of the vertical perimeter light stands ( they have been laying in pretty much the same position for the last 6 weeks ).

A skateboarder colliding with a wheelchair.

Undertakers carrying a coffin over the concourse.

The Head Teacher doesn't own the school and its land Boris. In this context she's irrelevant. Face it. Your beloved and rather dirty little bus station is going at last.

It's sad to see some people to be affected by certain developments in the town centre. Discussions have taken place and decisions have been made. That's it. Move on and put some energy into forthcoming projects or become a council members. It's better to make a decision than no decision at all.

Reginald47 wrote:
The Head Teacher doesn't own the school and its land Boris. In this context she's irrelevant. Face it. Your beloved and rather dirty little bus station is going at last.

Quite right, Reginald. You and I own it, assuming you too are an Essex resident. I'm glad you agree that the school never used the land they had. And of course I know that after 51 years we are going to be without a bus station, in about 6 weeks from now. We need a new one, and the place for it will have to be the Britannia car park.

I hear that the council is in a quandary as there are two plans to be considered.

Second Sh**e are proposing a state of the art world class cultural and arts facility called "The Box" as it resembles a large empty cardboard box , which on closer inspection is exactly what it is. Cost of this is £10m, sorry £15m or is it £20m.....

Hindsite plans a large open area around which there are small rooms where people can sit and wait while watching large passenger carrying vehicles manoeuvre around the site.

hughie-s wrote:
I hear that the council is in a quandary as there are two plans to be considered.

Second Sh**e are proposing a state of the art world class cultural and arts facility called "The Box" as it resembles a large empty cardboard box , which on closer inspection is exactly what it is. Cost of this is £10m, sorry £15m or is it £20m.....

Hindsite plans a large open area around which there are small rooms where people can sit and wait while watching large passenger carrying vehicles manoeuvre around the site.

Corby have already bought the cube

I walked near the VAF earlier this week after catching a bus into town to run some errands. I must say it does seem rather pointless and not at all popular. Given the amount of money spent on it, one feels that there must have been far more worthy causes that these funds should have been allocated for within the town. I hope the Council see sense eventually and pull the plug on funding. Given the proximity of the proposed new bus station (stop seems rather more appropriate) to Gala Bingo, I also expect to inhale far too much second hand smoke from the delightful customers that congregate outside the entrance.

Barside1 wrote:
Yeah, I'm also confused how the area will pan out.

When the VAF opened last Autumn it was possible to walk around most of its South facing curve.

Then this fence appeared which was aligned to the existing brick wall and that put a stop to any access to the meadow area - which I assume may be something to do with the school.

I saw a representative from Firstsite strutting around with her plans the other day as she gave a guided tour of the site to two bewildered 50 somethings.

As she passed us she waved her arms around and said something to the effect of 'Oh, this is coming down ( bus park cafe building etc ) and that's coming down ( I think she meant the block where the hotel is supposed to be going ) we are going to open up the whole area'.

The couple who she addressed seemed utterly confused and did not appear to share her delight in the demolition process.

If I may say, fly by night members of the quasi art world have been given a green light to take centre stage in ******* up our town.

Hanging out around the VAF for the odd 20 minutes a day does offer high entertainment value.

Recent highlights include a van driving into ( and knocking over ) 2 of the vertical perimeter light stands ( they have been laying in pretty much the same position for the last 6 weeks ).

A skateboarder colliding with a wheelchair.

Undertakers carrying a coffin over the concourse.

Well hanging around outside the VAF beats going inside!

Barside1 wrote:
Yeah, I'm also confused how the area will pan out.

When the VAF opened last Autumn it was possible to walk around most of its South facing curve.

Then this fence appeared which was aligned to the existing brick wall and that put a stop to any access to the meadow area - which I assume may be something to do with the school.

I saw a representative from Firstsite strutting around with her plans the other day as she gave a guided tour of the site to two bewildered 50 somethings.

As she passed us she waved her arms around and said something to the effect of 'Oh, this is coming down ( bus park cafe building etc ) and that's coming down ( I think she meant the block where the hotel is supposed to be going ) we are going to open up the whole area'.

The couple who she addressed seemed utterly confused and did not appear to share her delight in the demolition process.

If I may say, fly by night members of the quasi art world have been given a green light to take centre stage in ******* up our town.

Hanging out around the VAF for the odd 20 minutes a day does offer high entertainment value.

Recent highlights include a van driving into ( and knocking over ) 2 of the vertical perimeter light stands ( they have been laying in pretty much the same position for the last 6 weeks ).

A skateboarder colliding with a wheelchair.

Undertakers carrying a coffin over the concourse.

Well hanging around outside the VAF beats going inside!

Barside1 wrote:
Yeah, I'm also confused how the area will pan out.

When the VAF opened last Autumn it was possible to walk around most of its South facing curve.

Then this fence appeared which was aligned to the existing brick wall and that put a stop to any access to the meadow area - which I assume may be something to do with the school.

I saw a representative from Firstsite strutting around with her plans the other day as she gave a guided tour of the site to two bewildered 50 somethings.

As she passed us she waved her arms around and said something to the effect of 'Oh, this is coming down ( bus park cafe building etc ) and that's coming down ( I think she meant the block where the hotel is supposed to be going ) we are going to open up the whole area'.

The couple who she addressed seemed utterly confused and did not appear to share her delight in the demolition process.

If I may say, fly by night members of the quasi art world have been given a green light to take centre stage in ******* up our town.

Hanging out around the VAF for the odd 20 minutes a day does offer high entertainment value.

Recent highlights include a van driving into ( and knocking over ) 2 of the vertical perimeter light stands ( they have been laying in pretty much the same position for the last 6 weeks ).

A skateboarder colliding with a wheelchair.

Undertakers carrying a coffin over the concourse.

Well hanging around outside the VAF beats going inside!

Good news. The sooner they remove that eyesore bus station the better. That whole are can be made to look beautiful if done right. I took a load of people into the Firstsite building at the weekend and it is impressive. Shame about all the curmudgeonly philistines who who deny us this fine facility out of their own spite. Just because they have no idea of culture, doesn't mean that others share their inadequacies.

Sdapeze -

'That whole are' ( can be made to look beautiful if done right ). I took a load of people etc.

Cultered indeed.

Up yourself more like.

Sdapeze wrote:
Good news. The sooner they remove that eyesore bus station the better. That whole are can be made to look beautiful if done right. I took a load of people into the Firstsite building at the weekend and it is impressive. Shame about all the curmudgeonly philistines who who deny us this fine facility out of their own spite. Just because they have no idea of culture, doesn't mean that others share their inadequacies.

Sdapeze, if you think the VAF offers culture, that just shows how little you understand. Nobody is denying you the opportunity to show your guests round the VAF, or to wallow in its mediocrity. The BBC's culture critic found the view of the bus station to be the best feature of the VAF, and he knows a lot more about culture than you and me put together.
Just stop winding us up with your infantile criticisms of the bus station. You know you love it really. And in about 6 weeks, sadly, it will be gone. So get along there for an hour each day to admire it, and reflect on the sad truth that it was people like you, and the backwoods Tories who were in charge at the time, who condemned Colchester to lose its central transport hub. We are all going to miss it when it's gone.

No cars anywhere in Colchester as they cause traffic jams, no buses allowed in the town centre because they produce fumes.

It's Victorian Britain the Sdapeze way.

Libetia wrote:
No cars anywhere in Colchester as they cause traffic jams, no buses allowed in the town centre because they produce fumes.

It's Victorian Britain the Sdapeze way.

I assume you will allow cars on the new VAF lanes that are planned from the A12 for the elite to speed past the hoi polloi on their way to view the latest exhibits.

Colchester, a grubby little town full of Errrrr !! , nothing really , where most occupants stand around drinking extra strong larger, Knock it all down I say.

Why stop at the bus station. Why not the whole of Queen Street!?