Mayors to open new bus station

Wellington's new £650,000 bus station is due to be officially opened on Monday and will be fully operational the next day.

Wellington Mayor Councillor Barry Tillotson will team up with Telford & Wrekin Mayor Councillor Karen Blundell to perform the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2.50pm.

The opening of the new "transport hub" marks the end of the first phase of major planned redevelopments in Wellington, which is also to get an £8.5 million civic quarter, including a new register office, a replacement libary and office accommodation for up to 160 people.

Telford & Wrekin Council planners believe that the new bus and taxi interchange will greatly improve access to the town's train station, directly linking bus and train services for the first time.

Arriva, the bus operator, has completed a test run of the site and the company is working closely with the Travelink office to finalise service plans on the individual stands.

Improved security for the area includes a new CCTV system at both the new bus station and car park.

Phase 2 of the work to turn the former Wellington bus station into a 60-space car park will then start.

If there are no unforeseen delays, it is expected that the car park will be completed by the end of July.