Design of new Exeter Bus Station praised
Published: 7 November 2016
The design of the planned new Exeter Bus Station has been praised at a meeting to discuss accessibility issues at the facility.
The workshop with accessibility groups was organised by members of Exeter City Council’s Project Team and was held at the city’s St Sidwell’s Community Centre.
The aim was to discuss plans for the new bus station and the temporary arrangements that will be in place when the current facility closes at the end of March 2017.
Among the groups who attended were attending were Devon in Sight, Living Options, Devon Dementia, Devon County Council Sensory Team and Exeter Bus Users Group.
They were given a briefing on a number of issues relating to accessibility at the new site, including the colours within the building, floor surface textures / finishes and informational signage.
Charles Hill of the project team Arcadis, described the meeting as ‘extremely positive’.
He said: “The team have worked hard to incorporate the differing requirements of all parties, balancing such within the operational, legislative, physical and financial constraints of the facility.
“We are really grateful that the attendees have such a keen interest in the facility and are willing to give us their time at meetings like this – with everybody positively contributing to enhancing the end product that will be the new bus station.”
Grahame Flynn, Chief Executive of local sight loss charity Devon in Sight, welcomed the fact that the design team has listened to the issues raised by some disability groups at earlier meetings.
He told the meeting: “This is amazing. You really are taking on board a lot of the stuff that was in the initial meetings.”
After the meeting Mr Flynn added: “I think it’s really important to acknowledge that there has been a real shift to listening and working with the community rather than playing lip service. I thought the plans were interesting and some great comments were coming from the group.”
Several representatives who attended the meeting also offered to distribute leaflets and information to publicise the temporary bus arrangements which will be in place while the new station is built.
Exeter Bus Station is closing on at the end of March 2017 to allow for the substantial redevelopment of the site.
A new Exeter Bus Station will open in the winter of 2018, at the same time as Exeter’s new state-of-the-art new leisure centre St Sidwell’s Point, which is also being developed by Exeter City Council.
The new bus station will include covered waiting and boarding areas and high quality facilities. It will replace the existing aging bus station, which was opened in 1964.
While the new bus station is constructed temporary measures will be place to enable services to continue operating smoothly.
The temporary measures will include bus stands / stops with weather protection and information for passengers, for services which currently use the bus station.
Nine stands will be used in Sidwell Street. Five will be in Paris Street and one in Cheeke Street. Three stands for coaches will also be based in Sidwell Street.
Stagecoach will shortly publicise which services will use which temporary stands.
The temporary facilities will be in place by March 30, 2017, the date the existing bus station site needs to be vacant.