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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/20/save-preston-bus-station
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Can anyone save Preston bus station? | Can anyone save Preston bus station? |
| (8 days later) | |
| I was interested to see Preston bus station building take up a double page photo spread (Report, 18 December). The car park facade is stunning and photogenic but the building itself is huge – the length of two football pitches and with nine levels. It was already too big for Preston when it opened in 1969. | I was interested to see Preston bus station building take up a double page photo spread (Report, 18 December). The car park facade is stunning and photogenic but the building itself is huge – the length of two football pitches and with nine levels. It was already too big for Preston when it opened in 1969. |
| Since the building is no longer needed for development after more than 10 years under threat, the council examined the feasibility of modernising it for 21st-century travel needs; however, a full refurbishment would be very costly – a minimum of £17m and perhaps as much as £23m. Even the basic repairs bill for the building will be £5.5m over the next few years. Preston city council can't afford this and regretfully has decided in principle to demolish. We've placed all the reports and figures on the website to show the magnitude of the problem. We are a district council with a declining budget: 40% cut in government. grants since 2010 and more on the way. Like many councils, especially those in the north of England, the council has dwindling financial reserves and is struggling. We are facing further savage government cuts, with announcements expected this week. We have to prioritise and do what we can to protect front-line services. Demolition of the building will save us £297,000 a year. | Since the building is no longer needed for development after more than 10 years under threat, the council examined the feasibility of modernising it for 21st-century travel needs; however, a full refurbishment would be very costly – a minimum of £17m and perhaps as much as £23m. Even the basic repairs bill for the building will be £5.5m over the next few years. Preston city council can't afford this and regretfully has decided in principle to demolish. We've placed all the reports and figures on the website to show the magnitude of the problem. We are a district council with a declining budget: 40% cut in government. grants since 2010 and more on the way. Like many councils, especially those in the north of England, the council has dwindling financial reserves and is struggling. We are facing further savage government cuts, with announcements expected this week. We have to prioritise and do what we can to protect front-line services. Demolition of the building will save us £297,000 a year. |
| Our transport authority, Lancashire county council, will not invest in the bus station but we have an assurance it would build a new, smaller bus station for Preston, which they will then operate. We have explored attracting private investment into the building, so far without success. We are still happy to talk to anyone serious about this and with millions to invest. But they need to be quick. The declining state of the building and the diminishing state of the council's finances means time is running out. Iconic building or not, it all comes down to money in these desperate days for local government. Cllr Peter Rankin Leader, Preston city council | Our transport authority, Lancashire county council, will not invest in the bus station but we have an assurance it would build a new, smaller bus station for Preston, which they will then operate. We have explored attracting private investment into the building, so far without success. We are still happy to talk to anyone serious about this and with millions to invest. But they need to be quick. The declining state of the building and the diminishing state of the council's finances means time is running out. Iconic building or not, it all comes down to money in these desperate days for local government. Cllr Peter Rankin Leader, Preston city council |
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