First Stages of the £8.8million Redevelopment of Bedford Bus Station Now Open!
The first phases of the £8.8million redevelopment of Bedford bus station are now open to the public.
The new surface car park at Greyfriars provides 142 parking spaces while the public toilets have been completely refurbished, offering significantly improved and modern facilities for all users. Both facilities have been opened on time and within budget.
Lib Dem Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "It is excellent news that the first phases of the £8.8million Bedford bus station redevelopment are now open to the public.
"Redeveloping Bedford Bus Station has been a pipe dream for many years. However, the opening of the new surface car park and public toilets, the continuing progress on Allhallows car park as well as last week's announcement that we have a preferred contractor for the construction of the bus station building shows real progress is being made.
"Bedford bus station has let our town centre down for far too long but the £8.8million redevelopment is gathering pace and we will soon have a gateway to the town of which we can all be proud of."
The Greyfriars surface car park has 142 parking spaces including 7 disabled parking bays and provides parking for up to 2 hours every day. The car park also includes the latest payment technology, which allows users to pay by mobile phone, coins or credit and debit cards.
The public toilets, located on the ground floor of the Allhallows multi-storey car park have been completely gutted and totally refurbished. The new facilities offer bright, modern and accessible facilities, including larger cubicles for those with disabilities as well as baby changing facilities.
Planning consent for the bus station redevelopment was granted by Planning Committee on Monday 24th June.
The contract for replacement of the Bedford bus station buildings is programmed over a 40 week period, starting early in 2014 with an anticipated completion date before Christmas 2014.