The squandering of public resources on Cardiff’s central bus station site is now becoming clear. We’re left with still higher costs for the cramped and inadequate replacement, according to the business analysis in Neil Hanratty’s Director’s report to Cabinet this week (http://cardiff.moderngov.co.uk/…/CAB_Bus%20Interchange_FINA…).
Russell Goodway and the new regime say they will deliver “a new transport interchange which will be at the heart of the Cardiff Metro”. But their plan is driven by car-parking for the BBC (217 spaces), on top of the 83-space operational car-park under the BBC-building.
Their car-park access on Saunders Road prevents its use as a bus station access (except on event-days). It forces buses to rely on the congested access from Wood St; it prevents a Metro-tram system accessing a proper ‘interchange’ via Saunders Road free of traffic congestion.
The “interchange” (no longer “world class”) has no integration with future metro-trams, no integration with the 50% of bus services that will use stops on St Mary’s Street, Custom House St, etc. and no integration with the rail station except perhaps a covered walkway.
Why persist with massive BBC car-parking atop the bus station? They decided not to put it underground, because of time and cost in moving the main water pipe. Now they say we have to meet very high costs of building it above, because supporting columns in the bus movement area are ruled out. Also, roofing over the bus station causes high pollution levels, estimated at several times the legal NO2 limit, which has forced a restriction on bus numbers.
The “interchange” (no longer “world class”) has no integration with future metro-trams, no integration with the 50% of bus services that will use stops on St Mary’s Street, Custom House St, etc. and no integration with the rail station except perhaps a covered walkway.
Why persist with massive BBC car-parking atop the bus station? They decided not to put it underground, because of time and cost in moving the main water pipe. Now they say we have to meet very high costs of building it above, because supporting columns in the bus movement area are ruled out. Also, roofing over the bus station causes high pollution levels, estimated at several times the legal NO2 limit, which has forced a restriction on bus numbers.
No apologies from the Director for the concept, nor any indication of the costs of failing to deliver the BBC’s 217 parking spaces on time. What’s the cost of getting out of the lease and scrapping this stupid commuter car-parking in Central Square? Replacements if needed can go south of Central Station.
Why propose to make a bad scheme viable by switching to student accommodation towers? The area was supposed to be an Enterprise Zone with special incentives for financial and business services.https://businesswales.gov.wales/…/about-central-cardiff-ent…. So quickly has that prospectus turned sour ! No subsidies to student bedsits!
Let’s see a focus on “a new transport interchange at the heart of the Cardiff Metro”, drop spec developments of offices or student bed-sits and go for the basics.
Let’s see a focus on “a new transport interchange at the heart of the Cardiff Metro”, drop spec developments of offices or student bed-sits and go for the basics.
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