The new bus station and parking areas

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by AccyMad

Absolutely agree Margaret, the town planners must think we're all a little stupid & will believe what they tell us

I think that the town planners think we are all numpties.
With not enough brain cells to bless ourselves....but they think our legs work alright, or they would not be moving the bus station out of the centre of town.

[Guinness]

Originally Posted by Mick

Well not one post left on this thread
I take it nobody cares what happens to Accrington
yet you will start moaning when the one way streets and new parking restrictions come into force
you all had your chance to have your say on parking and the new one way streets with the architect
so don't say you where not informed

Oh right...like we have a say

Like they listened about Whitebirk
Like they listened about moving the bus station in the first place
Like they listened about the whole idea of Pennine Reach
Like they listened about the market

Oh sure....I'm going to waste my time going to a town centre that I never go into anymore unless I'm going to the doctor, dentist or optician..because its easier to hop onto the motorway and go to Preston, Manchester or Bury where there are actual shops and shopping centres?

Who cares about parking when there is no reason to park? Besides which, isn't the whole nonsensical idea to encourage people to use the bus and thus reduce the need for cars/parking?

[Accyexplorer]

Originally Posted by guinness

oh right...like we have a say

Like they listened about whitebirk
Like they listened about moving the bus station in the first place
Like they listened about the whole idea of pennine reach
Like they listened about the market

Oh sure....i'm going to waste my time going to a town centre that i never go into anymore unless i'm going to the doctor, dentist or optician..because its easier to hop onto the motorway and go to preston, manchester or bury where there are actual shops and shopping centres?

Who cares about parking when there is no reason to park? Besides which, isn't the whole nonsensical idea to encourage people to use the bus and thus reduce the need for cars/parking?

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[Gremlin]

The online plans for the bus station and the artist impression show 6 bus bays.
Last time I walked through the bus staion there were nine buses, including the ones on Infant street and one outside Frank Ogdens. Where will they be parked on the new stands and who will be resposible for watching the drivers out as they reverse.
Are they going to come out onto Blackburn road which is chaotic at times with traffic trying to get out at the bottom of Eagle street.
At present I have no use for buses but the time will come I'm sure.
I assume the tax payer has put a lot of money into the pockets of the thinkers who thought it all up.

[Morecambe Ex Pat]

The old Peel Street Bus station had more than twice the capacity of the new design and even that design required buses to be scattered around onto Melbourne Street and Infant Street. Back then there were only 3 operators, if I remember correctly Accrington, Ribble and Rossendale. Now you will have more operators using far fewer stands and can only result in even more chaos.
The old bus station wasn't a perfect design by any means in fact, it was downright dangerous having passengers walking between the buses but it should have given the 'experts' a few clues about the capacity of it's replacement.

How can the Council have passed a design which even a simpleton like me can see is totally wrong in many respects?

[Gremlin]

I had the misfortune to catch a bus the other day. My car was in for valeting.
It was a M&M ( not a sweet).
The bus was ticking over on the stand, door open and obnoxious fumes blowing back in. The driver was looking at (honestly) what I think what was the Koran and ignored ny request to close the door. My eyes were watering.
Road Traffic laws state vehicle engines must not be left running when the vehicle is stationary. Traffic jams are of course an exception.
If anybody connected with M&M buses reads this don't expect me to ride on your rattling antique death traps. The Platters came to mind. Smoke gets in your eyes.
Rant over.

[Barrie Yates]

Originally Posted by Morecambe Ex Pat

Back then there were only 3 operators, if I remember correctly Accrington, Ribble and Rossendale.

There was also Blackburn with the stand on Union St. The different services had separate stands on Peel St, Town Hall, Melbourne St and Union St. No confusion, people using the buses knew where to go for their particular service.

[Morecambe Ex Pat]

I can only remember the Blackburn service operating from the corner of the bus station next to the Market Hall. As for people using buses knowing where their particular service went from, that is not really the basis of an integrated transport system designed to attract visitors from outside the town. If that was a viable system then we wouldn't need a bus station at all and services could be run from bus shelters scattered around the town - oh wait a minute, that pretty much describes links to other towns of the old system. Scattering services around town could be a scene from Little Britain - local buses for local people.

[cashman]

There was also Ribble on Melbourne St.

[Gremlin]

I drove for Standerwick Express Coaches and we had the double deck Gay Hostess on the London Run.
We had a stop on Melbourne street opposite Melba Cafe and Old House Pub. It was around 1965 before I moved here.

[Stevie R]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I drove for Standerwick Express Coaches and we had the double deck Gay Hostess on the London Run.
We had a stop on Melbourne street opposite Melba Cafe and Old House Pub. It was around 1965 before I moved here.

I remember a Ribble service to London Victoria from Melbourne Street around 1968 on `The White Lady`

[Guinness]

Originally Posted by Stevie R

I remember a Ribble service to London Victoria from Melbourne Street around 1968 on `The White Lady`

Yeah I went on that a coupla times as a kid, think there was a longish stop off at Coventry but I could be wrong, no doubt Gremlin could confirm.

Around the same time I remember catching the bus for Huncoat outside the library.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Yes there were bus stops dotted around the town.....and if folk from outside the town needed to catch a bus and didn't know where to go.....they could ask one of the friendly locals.

[Gremlin]

Steve R, It was Standerwick Gay Hostess on the London run. Ribble had White Ladies on Manchester. Blackpool, Morecambe and Southport runs. They didn't have toilet or Hostess on board.

And Guiness. Some services stopped at Coventry or Birmingham Digbeth but the ones with the Hostess on board had a short stop at PMT Newastle u Lyme then belted straight to London.
The M6 ended at Cannock and we used the A5 to the M1 at Crick.

[lancsdave]

One of the other interesting issues will be exactly what buses use the new bus station. I've been told M&M & Pilky's won't be due to the cost.