PLANS to relocate the capital’s bus station to Victoria Street – already panned by some businesses in the area – have been branded ‘absolutely ludicrous’ by Douglas councillors.
The comments came as the Department of Community Culture and Leisure’s public consultation over the proposals got under way.
Councillor Carol Malarkey said: ‘This is the most ludicrous place you could put a bus station. It beggars belief.’
Her councillor husband Bill pointed out that, in the winter months, Victoria Street could be battered by gale force winds. ‘It’s got to be one of the most exposed streets in Douglas,’ he said. ‘To put a bus station there is absolutely ludicrous.’
Councillor Ritchie McNicholl said: ‘The bus station should go where it’s always been – in Lord Street. A worse place you could not find – if anything, they should be putting a wind turbine up there!’
The consultation, which runs until September 14, promises the public the chance to give their views on the suitability of Victoria Street for Douglas Bus Station and to outline any preferences they have if this was to become its permanent location.
It says the bus station has to be moved from its current site in the next year or so because of the planned redevelopment of the Lord Street area – and the development agreement with the developer Askett Hawk behind a proposed quayside hotel scheme ‘does not allow room for a bus station’.
Victoria Street is one potential solution being explored, it states, as it would ‘guarantee a central location vital for the convenience of shoppers and commuters’, have ‘easy access to Douglas promenade including the key bus routes’ and also ‘build on the excellent work by Douglas Corporation and the Douglas Development Partnership to redevelop the surrounding area’.
Listing other sites which the department has considered for the bus station, it explains why each has been deemed unsuitable.
It says the Town Square is a ‘good location but is owned by a private developer’ while the Sea Terminal has ‘insufficient room for the number of stops required and volume of passenger traffic’.
There are also concerns about the impact on harbour operations, the document adds.
The area around Lord Street, Ridgeway Street and Duke Street South is ruled out due to the high cost of replacing local authority housing to make room for a bus station, while Parade Street next to the Steam Packet buildings is rejected as it is too far from the town centre and could take trade away from Castle Street. The east side of Loch Promenade to the Jubilee clock is rejected due to concerns over lack of space, exposed location and road safety,
Douglas’s assistant town clerk has been asked to prepare a report taking into account members’ comments which will be considered by the authority’s executive committee which will then make recommendations to the council.
You can access the public consultation on the proposed relocation at {http://www.gov.im/ConsultationDetail.gov?id=332|http://www.gov.im/ConsultationDetail.gov?id=332}.