Council looking at putting new bus bays in Northampton town centre

It is understood that one of the streets being considered is Mercers Row, by All Saints Church, with the bays installed opposite the taxi rank.

If so, it would mean the loss of parking spaces in the street and possibly even the disabled spaces in Wood Hill.

A spokeswoman forNorthampton Borough Council said: “We are in the very early stages of considering extending bus bays into other streets as part of a proactive town centre management operation.

"It is too early to say where this might be and what this might mean but any plans will be developed with the appropriate partners and if they move forward, will be shared with the public at the earliest opportunity”

The plans will remind some people of the days when buses used to line the roads of the town centre when they would terminate in all roads around All Saints Church, as well as Abington Street.

Bus drivers, taxi drivers and passengers have all called for measures to mitigate traffic jams caused by congestion in The Drapery and streets surrounding North Gate Bus Station.

Suggested measures have included putting extra bus bays in the future Greyfriars development, rather than putting National Express stops there.