Newton Abbot's 'soul destroying' bus station could be consigned to the history books after Devon County Council signalled the start of a programme to improve travel in the town. The county has approved a £700,000 package which will enhance Bank Street and Wolborough Street, provide a cycle link to Kingsteignton and launch the first phase of an upgraded bus network. The investment, supplemented by Teignbridge Council, forms part of the county's £25 million Devon on the Move transport plan designed to tackle congestion, improve road safety and improve air quality. In the first phase of the Newton Abbot programme, £170,000 has been allocated to help bus companies provide new vehicles with low floors and cleaner engines. Shelters and bus stops will be improved and a campaign will encourage more people on to the buses. But it has been acknowledged that the town must have a new bus station, although funding and details are far from being finalised.
Cllr Anne Fry, who represents the town at County Hall, told members of the executive on Tuesday that the current Sherborne Road site was 'soul destroying', too small, polluted and dangerous. The county's environment director, Edward Chorlton, agreed. He said the sale of the old bus station to the government by the then Devon General bus company back in the 1970s had 'rather left us holding the baby'.
A long-term solution had to be found and he confirmed that talks had been held with Teignbridge Council. 'It needs to be done as a comprehensive piece of work for that part of Newton Abbot,' he said. 'I can't just take Sherborne Road and magic it into a bus station, it depends on other plans the district council has.'
Teignbridge Council leader Cllr Alan Connett said developing a new bus station needed to become a priority as was improving the town's reputation as a shopping destination. He declined to name potential sites for a new terminus saying the public should be consulted first and their wishes established. He called for a partnership with other local authorities and, almost certainly, the private sector. 'It would be unwise to rule anything out,' he said. 'What we need is an idea where the public on the whole say yes, we like it. People aren't really hung up about whether it's the private or the public sector that delivers it.'