Plans for temporary bus arrangements discussed by councillors
Published: 9 November 2016
Members of Exeter City Council’s Leisure Complex Programme Board have been given an update on plans to manage the temporary closure of Exeter Bus Station.
The Board was given details of the interim bus arrangements, which will keep services in the city centre when the current bus station closes at the end of March 2017.
A new bus station, with much-improved facilities, will open in the winter of 2018.
Members of the board were also given an update on the communications strategy designed to ensure people are aware of the temporary arrangements, and that any disruption is kept to a minimum.
After the meeting Cllr Phil Bialyk, lead councillor for the bus station redevelopment, said: “I welcome the progress that has been made to help enable services to continue in the city centre while we build the new bus station.
“We ask people to bear with us, because the news bus station and new leisure complex being built by the city council will be well worth waiting for. They will be a major asset to Exeter. “With clear communications about the temporary bus arrangements, the council and its partners and stakeholders will do everything to ensure disruption is minimal.”
Members heard 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.
Layover bays will be located in Red Lion Lane, Verney Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Summerland Street and Sidwell Street, at varying times during the new build construction phase. A ticket sales facility, and welfare facilities for bus drivers, are also incorporated into the plan.
A temporary traffic solution will also allow traffic to access two of the Princesshay car parks via Southernhay East.
The temporary facilities will be in place by March 30, 2017, the date the existing bus station site needs to be vacant.
The city council will ensure a comprehensive signage strategy is in place to minimise disruption. Highways alteration works in Sidwell Street and Paris Street will start in January, with the works in Southernhay starting in January/February.