Preston Bus Station

[robertclark125]

A listed building can still be demolished, if you go through the correct procedures, though it takes years. Here in Fife, the old Lino works on Victoria Road, disused for some 30 years, are going to start being demolished next month. So, if the current bus station was to lay disused for some time, then maybe.......

 

[Shrimper]

I believe the favoured method is an unexplained fire...

 

[robertclark125]

But disuse is a more legitimate way. That said, that requires stagecoach, and perhaps moreso Preston Bus, to pull out of the station.

 

[34D]

So is the county council still proceeding with building a new bus station elsewhere in the town?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

But disuse is a more legitimate way. That said, that requires stagecoach, and perhaps moreso Preston Bus, to pull out of the station.

Hmmm....problem with the old mysterious fire/dereliction bit is that it is usually fine for a commercial business. However, not so easy for a public body (supposedly publicly accountable) especially after a relatively strong campaign for listing and two unsuccessful attempts culminating in a third successful one.
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Paul, remember the T Dan Smith debacle ? i wonder if the bus station was built using strict tendering policy guidelines in the first place, just mere speculation on my part of course !

The issue now is support funding from the lottery etc as this doesn't come out of govrnment coffers, so they can politically justify not funding a folly, but would local MP's ask questions in the house, somehow i don't think so, the council now have to waste time & rsources on funding applications and financial contributions to a building that provides no justifiable financial return.

I think you maybe thinking of John Poulson, rather than T Dan Smith? Poulson was the architect (literally and metaphorically) of that but I don't think every public building put up in the 1960s was a result of backhanders!

 

[Lankyline]

I think you maybe thinking of John Poulson, rather than T Dan Smith? Poulson was the architect (literally and metaphorically) of that but I don't think every public building put up in the 1960s was a result of backhanders![/QUOTE]

Forgot about Poulson, it's well documented that Smith's regeneration plans for Newcastle involved demolishing slum housing and also anything historical / architecturally significant in the way went as well, replaced by a "concrete jungle"

Funny how there seem to be certain similarities between Newcastle & Preston back then mere speculation m'lud

Bottom line were stuck with the bloody thing !

 

[Lankyline]

Interview on BBC Radio Lancashire this morning with Lancashire County Councillor responsible for transport saying that LCC are looking at allocating approx £8m towards the refurbishment of Preston Bus Station and maybe more with outside funding possibly upwards of £15m. They have taken responsibility for the bus station off Preston city Council.
How can they possibly justify spending this money on this concrete mess when they are cutting services etc across the region. For this amount of money you could have reinstated Burrscough curves and had a better return. Refurbishing the bus station is not going to improve services

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Interview on BBC Radio Lancashire this morning with Lancashire County Councillor responsible for transport saying that LCC are looking at allocating approx £8m towards the refurbishment of Preston Bus Station and maybe more with outside funding possibly upwards of £15m. They have taken responsibility for the bus station off Preston city Council.

How can they possibly justify spending this money on this concrete mess when they are cutting services etc across the region. For this amount of money you could have reinstated Burscough curves and had a better return. Refurbishing the bus station is not going to improve services

That news about the refurbishment costs being shouldered by Lancashire County Council should please the residents of Preston.

Incidentally, will Preston Trampower take a presence at the bus station in the same way that TfGM propose that the Manchester Metrolink system will have an integral part of the transport interchange at Manchester Airport.

 

[Whistler40145]

I'd like to know how Lancashire County Council are continuously making cuts in services, but can manage to find funds to refurbish Preston Bus Station?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Interview on BBC Radio Lancashire this morning with Lancashire County Councillor responsible for transport saying that LCC are looking at allocating approx £8m towards the refurbishment of Preston Bus Station and maybe more with outside funding possibly upwards of £15m. They have taken responsibility for the bus station off Preston city Council.
How can they possibly justify spending this money on this concrete mess when they are cutting services etc across the region. For this amount of money you could have reinstated Burrscough curves and had a better return. Refurbishing the bus station is not going to improve services

We all know your personal views. However, two things:

1. Whether you have a new bus station or refurb the existing one, money needs to be spent at a time of cutting services
2. They wouldn't need to spend £8m if they'd actually kept up with maintenance i.e. they've not spent money in the past

 

[Lankyline]

We all know your personal views. However, two things:

1. Whether you have a new bus station or refurb the existing one, money needs to be spent at a time of cutting services
2. They wouldn't need to spend £8m if they'd actually kept up with maintenance i.e. they've not spent money in the past

Never believed in sitting on the fence ! but without getting into a political debate and losing the will to live at the same time, yes money needs to be spent but on the essential services that people need not refurbishing a working bus station, which is hardly going to fall down anytime soon, more's the pity so bus station refurb or cut the social care budget ? its a question of priorities.

On your second point, maybe because Preston Council either didn't have the money to spend and /or were hoping that lack of maintenance would have helped them achieve the goal of demolition, scuppered of course when listed status was granted.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That news about the refurbishment costs being shouldered by Lancashire County Council should please the residents of Preston.

Incidentally, will Preston Trampower take a presence at the bus station in the same way that TfGM propose that the Manchester Metrolink system will have an integral part of the transport interchange at Manchester Airport.

Interesting thought about Trampower, given that the current LCC seem to be more favourable towards the scheme. route access would be interesting and were to go from there, given that their current "test" area is Deepdale / Skeffington Rd

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Never believed in sitting on the fence ! but without getting into a political debate and losing the will to live at the same time, yes money needs to be spent but on the essential services that people need not refurbishing a working bus station, which is hardly going to fall down anytime soon, more's the pity so bus station refurb or cut the social care budget ? its a question of priorities.

On your second point, maybe because Preston Council either didn't have the money to spend and /or were hoping that lack of maintenance would have helped them achieve the goal of demolition, scuppered of course when listed status was granted.

You could say the same about supported bus services...surely there are other services that people see as priorities?

I think the lack of maintenance (and saving on spending) was probably more a case of not bothering as were planning to bulldoze and make a killing on the land. Then the recession came.....

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I am not too sure where my wife heard this from, but it appears that a television company made a short programme about Preston bus station whilst a decision on listing status was still in the process of being discussed.

 

[burns20]

It's being shown tonight at the Continental pub in Preston at 8pm

 

[AndrewP]

I think you maybe thinking of John Poulson, rather than T Dan Smith? Poulson was the architect (literally and metaphorically) of that but I don't think every public building put up in the 1960s was a result of backhanders!

Forgot about Poulson, it's well documented that Smith's regeneration plans for Newcastle involved demolishing slum housing and also anything historical / architecturally significant in the way went as well, replaced by a "concrete jungle"

Funny how there seem to be certain similarities between Newcastle & Preston back then mere speculation m'lud

Bottom line were stuck with the bloody thing ![/QUOTE]

I think there is a big difference between Poulson and Smith - Poulson was in it for the money pure and simple but Smith (with the exception of some dodgy painting contracts for his company) did want to make Newcastle special and to a great extent managed it (it was a different story elsewhere) - the town has a status far greater than its size suggests it should be. The other thing is that the finest buildings (Grey Street and Dean Street included) were never going to be demolished although part of Eldon Square was.

It must also be remembered that concrete was the thing in the 60s and was seen as positive and progressive and in many cases simply became outmoded itself - it is 40 - 50 years ago!

As for demolishing a Grade 2 listed building - you just need listed building consent as well as planning consent - they are not preserved in aspic. Grade 2* and Grade 1 are different.

 

[kevjs]

Never believed in sitting on the fence ! but without getting into a political debate and losing the will to live at the same time, yes money needs to be spent but on the essential services that people need not refurbishing a working bus station, which is hardly going to fall down anytime soon

Isn't part of it's car park closed for that exact reason - i.e. the ceiling and fittings have already collapsed (or is that the market car park?)

 

[Lankyline]

Isn't part of it's car park closed for that exact reason - i.e. the ceiling and fittings have already collapsed (or is that the market car park?)

I know their are issues with the car park but not sure what, the top level as you may know hasn't been used for a long tme as it was a favourite spot for some people to attempt to jump from !
There is now temporary fencing at both ends of the bus station at ground level, at the Guild hall end it is used for pedestrian access across the concourse.

 

[kevjs]

I know their are issues with the car park but not sure what, the top level as you may know hasn't been used for a long tme as it was a favourite spot for some people to attempt to jump from !
There is now temporary fencing at both ends of the bus station at ground level, at the Guild hall end it is used for pedestrian access across the concourse.

The fencing is because people were walking across the concourse and after an accident they needed to provide level access while simultaniously blocking access across the apron elsewhere. Hopefully the LCC redevelopments will include some form of access that looks more permanent.