From West Lancashire Record:

Revised plans for the redevelopment of Ormskirk bus station are a big improvement on the previous plans say Our West Lancashire councillors, but the lack of a waiting room and other concerns need ironing out in the new plans.

Cllr Jane Thompson from Scott ward said: “I’m delighted that the plans for a 4-storey building for students have been scrapped and that the car park on the site is being retained but the proposals leave a very open site with less facilities than we had previously.

Her colleague, Cllr Kate Mitchell added: “The purpose of any bus station redevelopment must be to encourage greater bus use. Yet this proposal provides no waiting room, only open bus shelters. A heated waiting room with wi fi, USB and the like and a small shop concession or even a vending machine would improve what we have currently. Instead, this feels like a step backwards and not a bus station at all.”

Long-serving Derby ward councillor Adrian Owens said the proposals were a step in the right direction but urged local residents to respond in their hundreds to the council consultation.

“There is a danger that the views of the public will take second place to the wish list created by officials”, he said. “This is part of a £2.4 million project. I was disappointed to see that the suggestion is that if more funds can be found a store room and market office be created in the proposed toilet block rather than creating a waiting room that would encourage more people to use the bus. It’s also a concern that the entire remaining funds for the cycle route to Edge Hill would be used without that project being completed risking a cycle route to nowhere”.

Less facilities for all this spending? It’s a route to nowhere, and not just the cycling!