Shropshire Star

Passengers fume over £1.3m Telford bus station plan

Passengers have hit out at £1.3 million proposals to move Telford's town centre bus station.

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Bus users believe people will have to cross a dangerous road if plans to move the station to the south end of the Brown Elm car park, near the new Southwater development, go ahead.

They made their views known at a consultation event held at Telford Shopping Centre yesterday by representatives of Telford & Wrekin Council and Arriva.

Under the proposals the current bus station would be closed and a new one opened across the road. The existing station would be redeveloped once the new station is complete.

Sylvia Bean, from Shawbirch, catches the bus to the town centre at least once a week and said she doesn't understand the need for the move.

The 79-year-old said: "To get to the station people will have to cross the road, which can get very busy.

"I do not see why the council needs to move the bus station as it's in a good location at the moment.

"I use the bus station a lot as I come to the centre at least once a week to do a bit of shopping."

Another bus user, who did not want to be named, said as she was elderly moving the bus station meant it would make it less accessible.

She said: "At the moment it is in a convenient place as it's easy to get into the shopping centre.

"The other day I walked with my granddaughter from the bus station to the Harvester at Southwater and I was out of breath.

"So if it is moved I can imagine people who struggle to walk like myself may find it less accessible. I just don't see why the council needs to move it."

Dominic Proud, Telford & Wrekin Council's group manager for transport strategy and road safety, said: "There was a steady flow of people coming to speak to us at the consultation from the moment we opened at 9.15am.

"The feedback we have received has been quite mixed as some people understand the shopping centre want to extend the centre and create more jobs, but some feel moving the station could create risks.

"We will be listening to what everyone has to say, and then we will have a look at the plans once the consultations are finished."

There will be another consultation tomorrow at Asda from 9.30am to noon and further consultation will take place in July.

A planning application is then expected to be submitted.

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