'Immaculate' bus station opens to passengers

The new bus station has opened almost 18 months after the previous one closed

Crewe's long-awaited new bus station has opened its doors.

Passengers were able to access the site from 05:00 BST on Tuesday.

It is the first part of Cheshire East Council’s long-running Royal Arcade development, which also includes a multi-storey car park, although a second phase has been scaled back in recent years.

Passengers have said the new bus station is worth the wait.

Work on the site started in April 2022, with the town's old bus station closing to passengers in January the following year.

The scheme, however, had been in the works for a number of years.

A planned development fell through in 2009, with Cheshire East Council buying the site in 2015.

But ideas for the second phase have been changed from restaurants, shops and a cinema, with the council instead looking into temporary uses for the site such as a park and event space.

The second phase of the Royal Arcade scheme has been scaled back

Many of those waiting for buses on the station's opening morning had a positive response.

“Immaculate,” was how it was described by one man.

A woman added: “They’ve done a good job. We just need the shops now."

Another said there had been an improvement on previous provision.

“I think it’s lovely, very nice, a lot better than the other one,” she explained.

The station has 10 bays for buses, plus seating and public toilets, but some users have said they feel it should have more facilities.

A café was suggested by one woman, while a man said he had expected a news stand.

Work on the site started in 2022

Among the users on Tuesday was Cheshire East councillor Alan Coiley, who represents Wistaston. He travelled into the town centre to use the leisure centre.

“I’m really excited about the bus station,” he said. “I hope it brings a lot more people into Crewe.”

He added he thought the number of people using the new bus station already was “a great sign”.

“They’re experiencing something new in Crewe which is fantastic, as for such a long time we’ve not had anything to be happy about,” he said.

The new bus station has 10 bays

The site was not popular with everyone.

Vanessa, an artist, said she did not like the bus station. She said she felt the design was “too clinical”.

Pointing at the white walls, she said she wanted to see “nice scenes of Crewe”, adding she felt the lighting should be fluorescent.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m not impressed,” she said.

Others, though, were pleased to have somewhere undercover to wait for their bus.

Michael Gorman, chair of the council’s economy and growth committee, said: “We know that Crewe’s communities have been calling for a new bus station for some time.

“Crewe is known for its fantastic transport links, and those travelling by bus can now enjoy a much more welcoming arrival into the town centre.

“I hope that passengers, once they get inside, will be pleased by what they see, and I’d like to thank everyone that has been involved in delivering such an important piece of the town centre’s ongoing regeneration.”

The adjourning multi-storey car park is set to open in the coming weeks.