New customer representative for bus station

Swindon Bus Station will remain open until the Fleming Way Bus Boulevard begins operating in August

A new customer representative will be introduced at a town bus station following the closure of its information office.

Swindon Bus Station is in its last few weeks of operations until the new Fleming Way Bus Boulevard station opens at the end of August.

But some people have expressed concerns about the safety of passengers, especially more vulnerable people, in that time due to the closing of the Swindon Bus Station's Stagecoach office.

Chris Hanson, from Stagecoach West, said: "We'd like to reassure customers that we're on hand to answer questions about timetables, onward connections and transport advice and look forward to meeting them to help them with their journeys."

"We understand that change can be unfamiliar for our customers.

"That's why we have put measures in place at Swindon Bus Station to provide information and answer questions, while services move to Fleming Way," Mr Hanson added.

The customer representative will be based there for the next couple of weeks until the new station opens, Mr Hanson said.

'Safety of women'

David Redgewell, from South West Transport Network and Railfuture Severnside advocacy groups, questioned how the council would ensure safety for all customers during the transition and when the new station opens.

He said: "Especially for safety of women and girls and LGBTQ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning] community members and passengers with reduced mobility, wheelchairs users and partially-sighted passengers?"

In response, councillor Chris Watts said: "We acknowledge your concerns and will continue to work with bus operators and the police, with passenger safety being a priority in these areas."