Town deserves a practical station
I recently viewed the proposals for the new bus interchange that were on display in the Grosvenor Centre and I have a few concerns and comments on what I saw.
Firstly I will be pleased the new bus station will be on one level, which will be better than the current Greyfriars site where you have to use either escalator or lift to get to the bus concourse.
I do however have concerns with the new interchange only having 12 bus stops in it, with the remaining seven to be placed in the Drapery. How will the powers that be identify which buses will be using the Drapery?
Will they expect visitors to carry their luggage and suitcases to a bus stop in the Drapery while they wait for their coach, instead of the comfort and warmth of an undercover waiting area?
Having lived in Northampton for a little over six years after moving from Derbyshire, I find the current bus station is an eyesore, as many people over the years have said, and the town deserves something more practical than a cold, rundown facility, that has an escalator which regularly needs repairing, brown wooden seats that you have to sit on while waiting for a bus, and leaky sewer pipes that sometimes fracture.
No doubt other readers will have other concerns to raise, but a new bus station will be better than nothing.
Craig Steele,
Brookside Meadows, Kings Heath, Northampton.
Building needs sprucing up
I have not seen the plans for the new bus station but in my opinion having moved to Northampton six years ago from West London where we didn’t have a bus station at all which meant standing out in the cold, wind, rain and snow, I agree with the views that the bus station just needs sprucing up.
If the ceiling was painted white, that would brighten it up, and if given a good clean it’s fit for purpose.
The council would be better spending money on a better escalator that can cope with the amount of people who use the bus station every day than spending all that money on a new bus station.
Shirley Chiles,
Deancourt Drive, Duston, Northampton.
Saving money on bus passes
In 1964 I moved from Kingsthorpe Hollow to Duston and have been a regular bus user ever since.
I believe Councillor Hadland has long been a resident of Duston, but I cannot ever recall having seen him on a bus. Perhaps we travel at different times. If he was a regular passenger I believe he would not be trying to take us back to the dark ages of waiting for the bus in the Drapery exposed to all weathers. Any replacement for Greyfriars must be able to accommodate all the necessary buses and provide a warm and covered waiting area for all passengers. Perhaps one advantage of the proposed replacement is that pensioners such as myself, not prepared to brave the elements waiting in the Drapery, will not use their bus pass so frequently, thereby saving the council money on the subsidy to the bus companies.
Whichever party is in power on the borough council they always seem to get it wrong.
The bus station and skate park are only the two latest examples.
The much vaunted marina in the park is fortunate to have filled 30 of the 80 moorings to date as there is no provision for car parking. Boat owners can take their cars to the footbridge over the river and then use a trolley to take their kit to the boat. Then they have to remove their car, find and pay for a space in the nearest public car park. Could be expensive if you wish to leave the car while going on a boating holiday! How long to the next election?
Rodney Hardwick,
Newton Road, Duston, Northampton.
In need of more than lick of paint
I am in favour of proposed plans for the new bus interchange. I am looking forward to it. Of course the present bus station provides shelter from bad weather but that’s about all. I don’t understand the “bus station just needs painting” brigade as we’d be left with those smelly unpleasant passages leading out of the bus area and truly disgusting toilets, not to mention the unreliable escalators. In fact, the original design of the place has left it open to abuse for years.
Shopping trips to other nearby towns have never been spoilt for me because of having to catch a bus in the street. The change couldn’t happen quickly enough.
D M Bonham,
Laburnum Crescent, Northampton.
Put money into street lights
LOOKING at the plans for the new bus station makes my blood boil. It will be a disaster. It’s not big enough for 200 plus buses a day. Out in the open air, no seats, not covered in for us and waiting around in the rain. And it is in a dangerous place to get into.
So forget a new bus station and let’s keep the big, ugly, roomy, convenient, got-everything-we-need bus station. Toilets, the best cuppa, stairs, lifts, escalators, seats and straight down to the shops. No trouble at all.
The Grosvenor is nearly empty so we don’t need it extending thank you.
Save your money brainy ones and pay to have the street lights back on for our safety.
Eva Gill,
Fulford Drive, Northampton.
Not big enough
My thoughts re the new bus station, it could be big enough to get the people in but that is all, unless they are going to buy elasticated buses. If the council want to stop people coming into the town centre, then I think they are on a winner. Regarding more shops in the Grosvenor Centre, we will consider that when they are attempting to make full use of what they have got.
G R Aitchison,
Harlestone Road, Northampton.
Seeing problems
I must write to congratulate S Powis on his superb letter of January 14. How is it our councillors and officials fail to see the problems in Northampton and surrounding area as he does?
The only thing to add is concerning the road infrastructure. Having resided in the Kings-thorpe district of Northampton for nearly 40 years and seeing gradual gridlock. Moulton Park, the university and housing have all increased without extra road links. Please wake up you councillors and take note.
Tony Watts,
Kingsthorpe, Northampton.
Honoured to sing for Saints
Team NMVC were invited by the Saints to provide 10 minutes pre-kick off encouragement to the capacity 22,000+ spectators to sing their team on. The choir started with Let All Men Sing and finished with When The Saints Go Marching In and were very well received.The conductor for the event was associate musical director Stephen Bell and accompanist was Andy Poole. Northampton Male Voice Choir felt very honoured to be asked by one of Northampton’s premier sports teams and were very efficiently looked after by the Saints officials.
We are anxious to raise the profile of NMVC and are actively recruiting to increase the size of the choir. Anyone interested can visit nmvc.co.uk or telephone 01604 753057.
We watched the match. The Saints fought valiantly, but it wasn’t to be, but what an atmosphere and what a great crowd the Munster supporters are!
Mike Davis,
Northampton Male Voice Choir recruitment.
Old friends
COULD my old friend Bill M (Ukranian) who knew Joyce of Penrhyn Road contact me please, via Jennifer McCabe at the Chron on 01604 467064. Thank you.
Joyce Ginn,
Spinney Hill, Northampton.
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