New proposal for temporary bus station solution announced

Exeter City Council is consulting on more temporary solutions for buses in the city centre for when the new bus station is built.

The Triangle Car Park has been considered as a temporary solution for an 18 month period. However the City Council said today that, after consultation, feedback and further consideration, it is looking at the option of putting temporary bus stands in Sidwell Street.

Cllr Phil Bialyk, Lead Councillor for Sport and Health & Wellbeing, said: “We have listened to residents and businesses near the Triangle Car Park and there are clearly a number of valid concerns about using the site as a temporary bus station.

"The City Council is now looking at the option of putting a number of temporary bus stands in Sidwell Street, combined with some additional stands in Paris Street and Bampfylde Street.

"Options would be flexible and moveable as the redevelopment of the current bus station progresses.”

Details about the Sidwell Street proposal will be on display at a drop-in event at the St Sidwell’s Centre, Sidwell Street, which is being held on Wednesday 6 July, from 6pm to 8.30pm.

Cllr Bialyk added that they were also exploring the possibility of temporarily re-routing cars up Western Way, Barnfield Road and Southernhay and into the Princesshay Car Parks whilst the interim bus solution was in place, effectively freeing up Paris Street for buses. Paris Street will become pedestrianised once the redevelopment is completed.

Details about the Southernhay traffic proposal will be on display at a drop-in event at the Mercure Southgate Hotel, which is being held on Tuesday 5 July, from 6pm to 8.00pm.

The latest proposals come about as the City Council analyses feedback from the latest exhibition for a new bus station held at Exeter Guildhall last week. The most popular themes emerging are around location, size and provision for coaches.

The Council has already taken on board a wide variety of comments raised by the public at previous consultation events and these have been included in detailed designs revealed last week.