News

New Year, New Bus Station

Poole's drab bus station is to get a much-needed makeover in the new year.

Work on a £300,000 facelift of the 40-year-old bus station next to the Dolphin Shopping Centre, Poole will start on January 12, 2009.

The imaginative project will transform the tired facility into a bright and colourful space for bus passengers visiting Poole town centre.

The centrepiece of the makeover will be an eye-catching mural that will cover the existing grey concrete canopy over the passenger waiting area.

Lee Penson, an internationally emerging architect, was commissioned to design the scheme including the huge mural, which will feature distinctive images of hot-air balloons, water-skiers and divers.

Cllr Mike White, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Borough of Poole, said: "This is great news for residents, visitors and retailers in Poole. We have increasing numbers of bus passengers in Poole and for many their first impression of the town is the bus station. We hope these much needed improvements will encourage more people to use public transport and visit the town centre."

Other improvements will include better lighting to create a bright and safe environment for passengers. Once the work is completed, the bus station will also become a no smoking zone, following requests from the public.

Work on the project - funded by Borough of Poole, Wilts & Dorset Bus Company and Grosvenor , owners of the Dolphin Shopping Centre - will take 12 weeks and also see the introduction of new raised kerbs at all bus stops, providing better access for wheelchair users and parents with buggies.

Simon Armstrong, Projects Director for Grosvenor, owners of Dolphin Shopping Centre, said: "The Town Centre North redevelopment, which we are keen to progress with the council, is likely to include a new state-of-the-art bus station. This is some years away, however we were keen to ensure that something was done now to improve the bus station. Our contribution to this will provide an improved facility for customers of the Dolphin Shopping Centre and the bus passengers pending the redevelopment."

Chris Harris, Public Relations Manager, Wilts and Dorset, said: "These works will provide a much improved environment for bus users in Poole. We would like to reassure customers that there will be no disruption to their journeys while work takes place. It will mean some temporary changes to departure stands but these will always be clearly signposted and staff will be on hand to help. We are all looking forward to the smartened up bus station."

To allow the works to take place, temporary bus stops will be required outside of the bus station. They include two stops on the northern side of Kingland Road and further stops in the adjacent Seldown Car Park .

Seldown Car Park will be closed from January 4 2009 while it is resurfaced and then used as an extension to the bus station for the duration of the works.

Alternative parking will be available in the remaining town centre car parks during this period, after which Seldown Car Park will return to public use.