COUNCILLORS have had their say amid the unveiling of new bus station plans in Colchester.
Plans could bring a new bus station back to Painters Yard as part of a transport interchange on the old site.
Team Colchester, a partnership between Essex County Council and Colchester Council, drew up the plans to improve public transport in the city centre.
The plans would turn the vacant Painters Yard site beside Curzon Cinema and behind Firstsite into a modern transport hub.
Councillors have now had their say on the proposals.
Lee Scordis, leader of Colchester’s Labour group, said residents had been “crying out for this change” for years.
Mr Scordis said: "The current bus station is a complete shambles and was placed in completely the wrong area for Colchester.
"Having a bus station on the old site will not only help Firstsite and the Curzon, but also help businesses on Queen Street.
"With passengers being dropped off a short walk to Colchester Castle and the High Street we hope to see more footfall to the city.
"Design will be crucial to address safety and make this a welcoming space.
"Take part in the consultation on this exciting new regeneration project and join us in supporting this project."
Castle ward councillor Amy Kirkby-Taylor said the bus station would be “good for the city” but would not “fix problems in the wider bus network”.
"We definitely need a new bus station and I think we are continuing to look all different options but this one potentially has legs and could be really good for the town centre and Colchester as a whole.
"A bus station on its own won't fix the problems with our bus network but it will hopefully give us the capacity so we can fix the problems in the bus network."
Residents can respond online and attend engagement events during the consultation.
The former bus station and depot on the site closed in 2012, after which Firstsite transformed part of the land while plans for the remainder did not proceed.
The next stage is to refine the proposals and develop a business case for funding.
Jeff Bray, Reform cabinet member for regeneration, planning and heritage at Essex County Council, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for Colchester and a chance to bring back to life a space that is underused.
“The next steps will see the proposals refined and a business case developed for funding, and it is important that local people help shape that process. Whether you use local bus services regularly, travel through the city centre or simply care about Colchester's future, we encourage everyone to take a look at the proposals and share their views.
“The need for a new bus interchange is driven by the significant growth of public transport over recent years as the city has continued to evolve.
“Creating a new high-quality facility at Painters Yard will ultimately allow for us to redesign the layout and reduce the number of vehicles using Osborne Street, meaning those services stopping there will be able to so more efficiently.”
Share