Brierley Hill Bus Improvement Scheme

[winston]

Now that the Enviro 200s are starting to arrive at NXWM Pensnett garage for upgrading route 222, has anyone seen/heard of any updates on when they plan to start the re-development of the existing Merry Hill bus station?

There were also the bus only priorities / bus lanes at certain junctions which were going to follow the 222 upgrade / bus station improvements as part of the BBA bid

[Roy]

I understand that an announcement is imminent.  If all goes to plan, work should start in Spring 2014 with completion in Autumn 2014.

[winston]

I understand that an announcement is imminent.  If all goes to plan, work should start in Spring 2014 with completion in Autumn 2014.

Thanks Roy! I thought that the bus station redevelopment may have happened a bit quicker

[D10]

According to a Centro press release today, the new Merry Hill bus station will NOT go ahead:

http://www.centro.org.uk/newsroom/PressReleases/PressRelease73785.aspx

Seems strange to say it is too expensive when all the funding should have been in place!

Personally I think it is a waste of money redeveloping Cradley Heath bus station, it is hardly that busy. I doubt a new bus station will encourage that many more people to use the train and then the bus who already don't. And don't forget that the same people will have to return from  Merry Hill with it's crap bus station! Also a bit worrying that no mention is made of ANY improvements to Merry Hill Bus Station, that £1.9 million could surely have been used to at least improve the existing Bus Station to some degree.

And what about the TBT agreement between Centro and NX, that seemed to commit Centro to improve Merry Hill?

I bet Westfield can't believe their luck though, once again they have wiggled out of giving up car parking spaces for the benefit of bus passengers!

[winston]

According to a Centro press release today, the new Merry Hill bus station will NOT go ahead:

http://www.centro.org.uk/newsroom/PressReleases/PressRelease73785.aspx

Seems strange to say it is too expensive when all the funding should have been in place!

Personally I think it is a waste of money redeveloping Cradley Heath bus station, it is hardly that busy. I doubt a new bus station will encourage that many more people to use the train and then the bus who already don't. And don't forget that the same people will have to return from  Merry Hill with it's crap bus station! Also a bit worrying that no mention is made of ANY improvements to Merry Hill Bus Station, that £1.9 million could surely have been used to at least improve the existing Bus Station to some degree.

And what about the TBT agreement between Centro and NX, that seemed to commit Centro to improve Merry Hill?

I bet Westfield can't believe their luck though, once again they have wiggled out of giving up car parking spaces for the benefit of bus passengers!

Since when is Cradley Heath in Brierley Hill?? another smart move by Centro.......  :o

It has also saved Westfield some cash as they were contributing to the scheme, surely even if the current bus station was too expensive to re-locate, they could have taken a small portion of the adjacent car park & added another lane/row of shelters. Even if they had replaced all the shelters with continuous glass walkways linking in with the shop canopies it would have made a difference. Another waste of time & money..................  ::)

Also notice how the wording has been changed to 'highway improvements' instead of bus lanes & bus gates

[wilmotm (Matt Wilmot)]

Well if they hadn't spent quite so much money on the oversized monster that is Stourbridge bus station then there might have been a bit of money left over! Ridiculous decision, something needs to be done at Merry Hill

[andrew1991]

I guess that's why the stands are changing then http://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/information/service-changes/service-changes-from-1st-december-2013

[Roy]

From what I've heard, Westfield have been extremely obstructive throughout the negotiations and that the government grant has to be spent by the end of 2014/15 financial year.  Centro have probably decided to spend the money granted to them away from Westfield owned land to ensure that they don't lose the money.  Don't be surprised if Metro line 2 (if it is ever built) avoids Merry Hill for the same reasons.

I think that the intention at Cradley Heath is to re-position the Bus Station in order to provide extra space for car parking.

Unfortunately, bus users and operators will have to put up with that ****hole that masquerades as a bus station for the foreseeable future.

[winston]

From what I've heard, Westfield have been extremely obstructive throughout the negotiations and that the government grant has to be spent by the end of 2014/15 financial year.  Centro have probably decided to spend the money granted to them away from Westfield owned land to ensure that they don't lose the money.  Don't be surprised if Metro line 2 (if it is ever built) avoids Merry Hill for the same reasons.

I think that the intention at Cradley Heath is to re-position the Bus Station in order to provide extra space for car parking.

Unfortunately, bus users and operators will have to put up with that ****hole that masquerades as a bus station for the foreseeable future.

Don't Centro / Dudley Council have the power to compulsory purchase land for transport projects?

[richie]

From what I've heard, Westfield have been extremely obstructive throughout the negotiations and that the government grant has to be spent by the end of 2014/15 financial year.  Centro have probably decided to spend the money granted to them away from Westfield owned land to ensure that they don't lose the money.  Don't be surprised if Metro line 2 (if it is ever built) avoids Merry Hill for the same reasons.

I think that the intention at Cradley Heath is to re-position the Bus Station in order to provide extra space for car parking.

Unfortunately, bus users and operators will have to put up with that ****hole that masquerades as a bus station for the foreseeable future.

Don't Centro / Dudley Council have the power to compulsory purchase land for transport projects?

Not sure but the service operators have the right not to use it as it's not fit for purpose.

[winston]

From what I've heard, Westfield have been extremely obstructive throughout the negotiations and that the government grant has to be spent by the end of 2014/15 financial year.  Centro have probably decided to spend the money granted to them away from Westfield owned land to ensure that they don't lose the money.  Don't be surprised if Metro line 2 (if it is ever built) avoids Merry Hill for the same reasons.

I think that the intention at Cradley Heath is to re-position the Bus Station in order to provide extra space for car parking.

Unfortunately, bus users and operators will have to put up with that ****hole that masquerades as a bus station for the foreseeable future.

Don't Centro / Dudley Council have the power to compulsory purchase land for transport projects?

Not sure but the service operators have the right not to use it as it's not fit for purpose.

That couldn't realistically happen though at Merry Hill as there is know where else suitable for buses to stop, I can't imagine Westfield would bat an eyelid at it if happened.

I think as a result of this fiasco, Centro & Dudley Council should get together and fire one across Westifield's bow, either invest in public transport provision / make way for infrastructure improvements or we'll enforce that you start charge for car parking!

[Roy]

I think as a result of this fiasco, Centro & Dudley Council should get together and fire one across Westifield's bow, either invest in public transport provision / make way for infrastructure improvements or we'll enforce that you start charge for car parking!

I couldn't agree more.  Dudley Council could chip in by refusing planning permission for any further extensions.

[winston]

I think as a result of this fiasco, Centro & Dudley Council should get together and fire one across Westifield's bow, either invest in public transport provision / make way for infrastructure improvements or we'll enforce that you start charge for car parking!

I couldn't agree more.  Dudley Council could chip in by refusing planning permission for any further extensions.

Yes, that would also hurt Westfield's future expansion plans for the shopping centre & Waterfront area

[the trainbasher]

Anything but charging for parking at Merry Hill as that will make UKPC useful!

[williamposh]

This is outrageous. Operators have put investment in on the basis of this agreement and it is not being honoured.  If I was NX I would take the new buses off the 222 and send them out of Dudley.

The only transport that pays to use Merry Hill is the bus via the Departure Charges.  High time cars had to pay or buses can access for free.

As a back up plan, Cradley Heath is awful.