Warwick bus station plans win praise
Huge support for a new bus station in Warwick is driving forward plans to submit a planning application to Warwick District Council before the end of the year.
Hundreds of people visited the mobile exhibition giving members of the public the chance to comment on the proposed new Warwick Bus Station, and of these 135 took the time to fill in written responses.
The overall response to the proposed bus station was very positive:
"This bus station will be a good improvement to Warwick Town Centre."
"Making buses do the town centre ‘loop’ is crazy."
"Pleased to see some parking spaces will be retained."
"It is a big improvement all round."
However, there were concerns with people worried about the reduction in car parking spaces at the Westgate Car Park where the new station will be based.
Under an agreement with Warwick District Council over the use of the Westgate Car Park land to locate the Warwick Bus Station, it is a condition that the Warwick Variable Messaging Sign (VMS) Scheme must be delivered before construction of the Warwick Bus Station can commence.
This scheme is similar to the one operating in Stratford upon Avon where electronic message boards announce to drivers how many spaces are available in town centre car parks.
The Warwick VMS Scheme is scheduled to be completed shortly after Christmas.
A planning application will be submitted for the proposed Warwick Bus Station in December and a decision should be reached by February 2008. If planning approval is granted then it is projected that the construction work on the proposed Warwick Bus Station would be completed by December 2008.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “This new development will bring tremendous environmental benefits to Warwick in getting buses out of the immediate town centre.
“The siting of the new bus station will make bus travel easier, and therefore provide a more attractive alternative to the car. It will also provide a more comfortable interchange for passengers and improve the efficiency of the bus operations in the town centre.”
For more information on the plans visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/warwickbusstation