New Colchester bus station on course to open on Sunday (From Essex County Standard)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECS to 80360, or email »
New Colchester bus station on course to open on Sunday
3:51pm Tuesday 13th November 2012 in Local news
COLCHESTER’S controversial new bus station will be completed in time to open this Sunday, it has been confirmed.
Workmen have been creating the £2 million facility on Osborne Street and Stanwell Street throughout the autumn.
Now Derrick Louis, Essex County councillor responsible for highways, has confirmed the new station will be officially unveiled on Sunday
The current temporary bus station, on Queen Street, will close at midnight on Saturday.
Mr Louis said: “Excellent progress has been made on the development of Colchester new bus station, and I am delighted that it will be ready to open this weekend."
Comments(51)
Colchesterperson
says...
8:49pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Feisty CBC
says...
10:42pm Tue 13 Nov 12
hughie-s
says...
10:43pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Colchesterperson wrote:Leaflet....
and they have not even bothered to tell anyone how this new route will work, 2 million pounds that may aswell have been burnt everyone was happy with the queen street bus station why waste the money to change it???
http://www.colcheste
r.gov.uk/CHttpHandle
r.ashx?id=8348&p=0
greenbroker
says...
2:00am Wed 14 Nov 12
mirokou
says...
3:21am Wed 14 Nov 12
Libetia
says...
1:59pm Wed 14 Nov 12
mirokou wrote:Because not everyone using buses in town is using it as a terminus, but also as a interchange area.
Am i missing something here. With a multitude of bus stops around town why is a bus station so important to some people. slightly redundant idea
TheCaptain
says...
2:16pm Wed 14 Nov 12
mirokou wrote:Because some people can't stand change and they are always right.
Am i missing something here. With a multitude of bus stops around town why is a bus station so important to some people. slightly redundant idea
I use buses every day and don't have a problem with this.
TheCaptain
says...
2:18pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Grabber wrote:Queen Street will be less congested as buses don't have to go in and out of the old station.
Gridlock in town by 08.30 Monday then glad I work in Suffolk !
Lets just wait and see before condeming it.
Goonerboy
says...
4:32pm Wed 14 Nov 12
wellnow
says...
5:15pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Im_Like_HELLO
says...
6:13pm Wed 14 Nov 12
25414nora
says...
6:26pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Goonerboy wrote:You conveniently forget to mention...
The issue most people have is... how can a few road changes , a bus shelter and signs come to £2,000,000 .
The modern cafe and rest room (waiting area)..The modern hygenic toilet facilities. Electronic visual time table.. There will be no dark hiding places for the 'Pervo's, Druggies, to congregate..The old bus park had it's uses in times past..Now it's a filthy disgrace, so glad it's going.. 'As always' some people need to be dragged screaming into the 21st century...
Grabber
says...
7:44pm Wed 14 Nov 12
TheCaptain wrote:Queen Street is and will continue to be blocked as more than 1 bus is always trying to get in to the stop near the old Shoe World shop. Wait until 5pm when people are trying to get out of the car park above Gala bingo its going to be gridlock. 2 million pound would of been better spent on a out of town park and ride !
Grabber wrote:Queen Street will be less congested as buses don't have to go in and out of the old station.
Gridlock in town by 08.30 Monday then glad I work in Suffolk !
Lets just wait and see before condeming it.
Ontheball
says...
9:30pm Wed 14 Nov 12
£2m to make basic alterations to thew Osborne St bus stops, is a complete rip-off to us taxpayers!
Boris
says...
12:25am Thu 15 Nov 12
25414nora wrote:The old bus station had a perfectly good cafe until CBC closed it. It still had perfectly hygienic toilets (I speak only for the gents). If it has become a filthy disgrace, that is because CBC is running it down and it has only a few days left, so why bother cleaning it?
Goonerboy wrote:You conveniently forget to mention...
The issue most people have is... how can a few road changes , a bus shelter and signs come to £2,000,000 .
The modern cafe and rest room (waiting area)..The modern hygenic toilet facilities. Electronic visual time table.. There will be no dark hiding places for the 'Pervo's, Druggies, to congregate..The old bus park had it's uses in times past..Now it's a filthy disgrace, so glad it's going.. 'As always' some people need to be dragged screaming into the 21st century...
The new waiting area will only shelter about 20 people, against at least 80 at present. You will pay to use the toilet.
Pervos and druggies are a figment of your imagination.
Let's see if you are still happy with Osborne Street this time next week.
sandgronun64
says...
9:01am Thu 15 Nov 12
IT IS A STREET!
IT IS NOT A BUS 'STATION'!
A bus 'station' would be purpose built and off the road.
If the above definition is not the case, then surely the town is full of 'stations?'
Perhaps bus-convergence' might be a more appropriate term?
romantic
says...
9:06am Thu 15 Nov 12
Any modelling which has been done will almost certainly under-estimate how long it takes to get people on and off the bus.
That will be the pinch point. In my opinion.
Personally, I will walk or cycle around anyway, so doesn´t matter so much to me, but I can see this causing delays to the bus services which a lot of people use.
But anyway, let´s see if I´m right or the Captain is right. I hope that I´m wrong, really!
Bert_Stimpson
says...
9:43am Thu 15 Nov 12
Checkout
says...
10:41am Thu 15 Nov 12
hughie-s
says...
11:04am Thu 15 Nov 12
Don't think so Romantic, the timetables for buses coming up East Hill show the new stop outside the Minories then the next one is Osborne Street or Stanwell Street (note not Bus Station).
Could be double trouble, at the second stop if there is a bus on the stop and a lorry in the loading bay opposite is there room for another bus or lorry to get through?
bev52
says...
11:16am Thu 15 Nov 12
Elderly and disabled people again have been penalised as many won't be able to manage to get up hills or steps into town from there, wheras the old Queen street one was central for them.
The art center should have been put somewhere else if we really had to have it (another waste of money IMO) at all.
Libetia
says...
1:57pm Thu 15 Nov 12
I am happy to be proven wrong, but I think I'll go the long way round and pay the extra at W&G's car park.
Sdapeze
says...
5:38pm Thu 15 Nov 12
Grabber
says...
6:42pm Thu 15 Nov 12
historyman22
says...
10:05pm Thu 15 Nov 12
Any chance of a useful comment in respect of the (so-called) bus station?
It is after all a story about the (alleged) bus station.
For all others, don't let sdapeze derail this debate. He will soon want to rant about the giant tin can (AKA hindsite) and cycling. It really is a bit of a bore so don't encourage him.
Agree with sandgronun64 though.
Surely unless it is a purpose built structure, (i.e a bus station) then it is still a street?
Good to know that CBC is still spinning those giant yarns though!
Ridere Clara Voce
Grabber
says...
5:08pm Fri 16 Nov 12
no chance at all its more fun to annoy you and all the other keyboard warriors !
historyman22
says...
12:24am Sat 17 Nov 12
Grabber wrote:Of which you are now among the ranks of?
History man
no chance at all its more fun to annoy you and all the other keyboard warriors !
Or do you use voice recognition software to present your poorly constructed drivel?
I am glad however that you have finally admitted that you have nothing of note to offer.
Many of us will (no doubt) have spotted this already, but for you to deal with it, you first have to recognise that you have a problem. Glad you have taken this vital initial step.
For your benefit then ... Ridere Clara Voce = LOL (in grabberspeak that is!).
For the rest
Anyone still want to comment on the 'bus-street?'
Best give it a rest for now.
BUT:
Roll on Monday
...
It should get really interesting then.
Grabber
says...
7:40pm Sat 17 Nov 12
C U Next Tuesday !
historyman22
says...
2:08pm Sun 18 Nov 12
Grabber wrote:Wow, nice and erudite Mr grabber!
Decode this History man
C U Next Tuesday !
Thanks for telling us your name in 'code' ... though it hardly needed an enigma machine to 'decode' it.
Most of us had worked this out for ourselves.
Any chance of a comment regarding the bus station?
Even something faintly relevant?
Sdapeze
says...
5:58pm Sun 18 Nov 12
n/layover/etc. is now outside the heritage core, so it is a first step toward a better town centre. Just asking for views. I think I already know the answer to be 'up yours' but you could just surprise me.
Grabber
says...
6:36pm Sun 18 Nov 12
partyplanner
says...
9:06pm Sun 18 Nov 12
historyman22
says...
9:14pm Sun 18 Nov 12
Grabber wrote:Thank you darling!
Historyman there is no point as you know it all !
Boris
says...
12:22am Mon 19 Nov 12
Sdapeze wrote:Nice idea but there is not a lot of heritage left in our town centre. Rebuild the Cups Hotel, rebuild St Nicholas Church, and so on. Hand over the car parks to town centre residents to keep their cars there, and not near their houses.
How would you scratchy lot feel about the concept of a heritage core for the town? In other words, everywhere within the town walls, where cars and buses and taxis and motorcyles and perhaps bicycles were banned. What would it take to make it work? How could the disabled and infirm best be accommodated by such a scheme? Why do other places do it and how do they cope? The aim would be to make Colchester a better place to visit for shopping, for dining, for the arts, for heritage, for a quiet and enjoyable experience generally? Or could you simply not care less, insisting on your God given right to drive your car through the town whenever you want? The new bus stop/terminus/statio
n/layover/etc. is now outside the heritage core, so it is a first step toward a better town centre. Just asking for views. I think I already know the answer to be 'up yours' but you could just surprise me.
Once you have done all this, your suggestion makes a lot of sense.
Dave Bruce
says...
10:30am Mon 19 Nov 12
romantic
says...
11:01am Mon 19 Nov 12
Dave Bruce wrote:I wandered past the "bus station" yesterday and saw a coach for Heathrow having to turn by going into the other lane and then swinging a hard left. There seems no other way for a
I have to travel into Colchester by bus every day because my work is here. The old bus station was a quick and convenient interchange to catch my connecting bus. That's all gone now. There was grid-lock this morning because the bus in which I was travelling could not negotiate the sharp dog-leg left-hand turning into Stanwell Street. Several buses quickly stacked up behind us and we were not allowed off until the driver had been able to manoeuvre and park safely, which proved to be difficult and time consuming. In addition, to exit the so-called new "bus station" (joke!) I then had to try and cross a busy junction. As a result of all this, I was late for work. I'm not impressed. Thanks for nothing Colchester Borough Council. It's clear you have no idea about life in the real world. In future I shall travel by car.
On a Sunday afternoon, it is quiet enough to do this without problems, but I´m not so sure about a wet rush-hour with other buses already piling up to go straight ahead.
Let´s hope these are just teething problems. As with the VAF, it is our money that has paid for this, so, however much we think it is wrong, it kind of has to work or we end up with even more of our money being spent.
Dave Bruce
says...
12:00pm Mon 19 Nov 12
g, shopping or even to catch a connection may only have the luxury of one bus per hour.
Grabber
says...
5:09pm Mon 19 Nov 12
Sdapeze
says...
10:23pm Mon 19 Nov 12
Boris
says...
2:50am Tue 20 Nov 12
Sdapeze wrote:I hope you are not accusing your wife of being an idiot. Anyway, it's good of you to confess your abominable behaviour in coming into town by car.
Bus drivers throwing toys out of their prams as a fit of pique? Buses have been negotiating that turn for years. Why, all of a sudden, do they have difficulty now? I came through that way today, to see how it looked, and had no problem whatsoever. Felt a bit guilty though as I was in a car, driven by my wife. I will use the bike next time, as I always try to do, to avoid the jams caused by idiot car drivers.
Boris
says...
2:58am Tue 20 Nov 12
Could any of you answer a question? Yes, I'll try. Oh thanks: can you tell me where the £2 million went? What do you mean? I mean the amount that we council tax payers paid for this rearrangement of a few bus stops and realignment of kerbs. Oh, I can't answer that, I only work for the bus company. You'll need to ask the council that. Is there anyone from the council here? Not that I know of.
hughie-s
says...
8:35am Tue 20 Nov 12
Sdapeze wrote:Buses have been negotiating that turn for years. Why, all of a sudden, do they have difficulty now?
Bus drivers throwing toys out of their prams as a fit of pique? Buses have been negotiating that turn for years. Why, all of a sudden, do they have difficulty now? I came through that way today, to see how it looked, and had no problem whatsoever. Felt a bit guilty though as I was in a car, driven by my wife. I will use the bike next time, as I always try to do, to avoid the jams caused by idiot car drivers.
That's strange, the new layout was only opened on Sunday and the old road onto Southway is now occupied by the "waiting room". The problem was I guess the bus driver going into the "ahead only" lane rather the outside lane that needs to be used to turn into Stanwell Street.
One bus is hardly news compared with the 99% of motorists who on Monday morning were trying to go through the bus lane, still can't really blame them as the lane does say "Ahead Only", no mention of buses only apart from a small sign on a post.
romantic
says...
8:56am Tue 20 Nov 12
Sdapeze wrote:I do hope you didn´t go through the heritage core, sdapeze. Logically, you are implying that your wife is also an idiot, or is it only the other car drivers who are idiots? Obviously, your journey was far more essential than theirs!
Bus drivers throwing toys out of their prams as a fit of pique? Buses have been negotiating that turn for years. Why, all of a sudden, do they have difficulty now? I came through that way today, to see how it looked, and had no problem whatsoever. Felt a bit guilty though as I was in a car, driven by my wife. I will use the bike next time, as I always try to do, to avoid the jams caused by idiot car drivers.
Sdapeze
says...
9:35am Tue 20 Nov 12
Bert_Stimpson
says...
10:21am Tue 20 Nov 12
Sdapeze wrote:She obviously is an idiot for marrying you and subjecting herself to a lifetime of tedium. Barton's Folly should get interesting when the Christmas rush really begins.
Bus drivers throwing toys out of their prams as a fit of pique? Buses have been negotiating that turn for years. Why, all of a sudden, do they have difficulty now? I came through that way today, to see how it looked, and had no problem whatsoever. Felt a bit guilty though as I was in a car, driven by my wife. I will use the bike next time, as I always try to do, to avoid the jams caused by idiot car drivers.
25414nora
says...
11:57am Tue 20 Nov 12
Bert_Stimpson
says...
1:40pm Tue 20 Nov 12
25414nora wrote:Another success story? Like Firsts*ite, the park and ride, pedestrianising the high street, traffic management, the cultural quarter...
Any new venture will always have it's teething probs.. I'm sure when the bus drivers recieve a little more education, This will be another Colchester sucess story..
Barton's Folly Bus Stop is a joke. As for saying bus drivers need 'a little more education', I don't think you could be more condescending if you tried.
Then again, you do have a track record for posting egotistical drivel on here.
ars est celare artem
Sdapeze
says...
2:09pm Tue 20 Nov 12
historyman22
says...
2:30pm Tue 20 Nov 12
I doubt there is one person or policy to blame, rather it is a littany of errors. The fact that supporters of revised transport scheme think it is the bus drivers (not the bus-street) that are at fault further compounds the position. One blunder after another.
Pedestrianisation of the high street will be the next thing they manage to make a hash of, despite its being intrinsically a good idea.
"Great blunders are made, like large ropes, of a multitude of fibers." - Victor Hugo
romantic
says...
3:00pm Tue 20 Nov 12
25414nora wrote:I thought for a moment you were being ironic, but I suspect that´s probably not the case! There is a point where seeing the bright side teeters into blind faith.
Any new venture will always have it's teething probs.. I'm sure when the bus drivers recieve a little more education, This will be another Colchester sucess story..
Not sure it´s fair to pin anything on the drivers, though; they don´t get any more say in this than we, the public, do.
Grabber says...
8:45pm Tue 13 Nov 12