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Letter: Guildford Bus Station Is A Council Responsibility, When Do We Get Some Action?
Published on: 3 Jul, 2021
Updated on: 2 Jul, 2021
From: Sue Hackman
Guildford Labour spokesperson
In response to: Call For Filthy Bus Station To Have A Good Clean
The bus station is owned by Surrey County Council and paid for by our taxes. The standard is set by the council, and whoever cleans them is accountable to it. With the last facelift 10 years behind us, it is time for another.
We could wait for the redevelopment of the town centre, but gosh, that’s not moving very quickly, is it? The council is always talking about improvements, visions, developments, consultations… when do we get some action?
Lead GBC councillor for Environment, Cllr James Steel (Lib Dem, Westborough) responded:
“We have recently taken control of the land on which the bus station stands from the Friary Centre. Surrey County Council manages bus services in Guildford, and Arriva manages the day-to-day running of the bus station. We [GBC] empty rubbish bins twice a day and help with litter picking, as well as deep cleans.
“We are speaking with Surrey County Council about the future management, cleaning and maintenance of the bus station and we hope that this will improve the station in the short term.
“Our North Street Regeneration programme shows our long-term plans for the area, including a new bus station, which will help us increase use of sustainable transport, improve air quality and improve the passenger experience.”
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Responses to Letter: Guildford Bus Station Is A Council Responsibility, When Do We Get Some Action?
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Jim Allen
July 3, 2021 at 8:46 am
Why should The Dragon have to publish an article before action is taken? Wouldn’t it be great if those responsible for maintaining the bus station to have done their job and The Dragon report what a wonderful clean bus station we have?
Georgina Grant
July 3, 2021 at 9:27 am
The photo with Guildford Shuttle on it says it all. That service ceased several years ago, yet the panel with white paint splashed all down it has never been replaced.
There was supposedly a deep clean a while ago, but the grotty state of the bus station has persisted. It is no good blaming pie-in-the-sky future plans when there has been no care for the facility in the present.
John Cooke
July 3, 2021 at 5:56 pm
Councils and politicians don’t care about bus stations. They think poor people, school children, and students use them and that their votes don’t change things.
All the time this attitude persists, people will think bus stations are scuzzy places and we should drive to town rather than use public transport. Attitudes need to change, buses need to be frequent, reliable, affordable and take us where we need to go. The bus stations should be hubs where we can eat, feel comfortable and secure.
The same applies to prioritising trains and cycle lanes. If not the road congestion will increase and the air-quality decline.
I drive a diesel guzzling pig because there are times I need such a beast to carry materials, but, given the opportunity, I would always use public transport or cycle, but it is generally inefficient, unpleasant or inconvenient.
H Trevor Jones
July 4, 2021 at 2:49 pm
I don’t drive so I do occasionally use buses for excursions into the countryside although I usually use bus stops away from the bus station.
Nevertheless, although not the most beautiful of bus stations, it usually works fine for me whenever I do use it. It’s very good having a central point for all buses only a short walk from both the town centre and the railway station. I live in Guildford Park Road, so walk into town.
Its coffee shop may not be as smart as that at the railway station, but I think its coffee is cheaper.
Stuart Fanning
July 21, 2021 at 3:23 pm
Big question mark over bus services in the Guildford area.
It seems that Arriva have sold their bus garage in Guildford, and have to move out later this year.
No replacement has been found, so it makes you wonder about Arriva’s commitment to running bus services in the Guildford and surrounding area.
This puts a question mark over the bus station which Arriva operates. Someone needs to question Arriva on their intentions.