Hunstanton's £2m bus station revamp 'could boost tourism'

Andrew Jamieson said a travel and activity hub would be a very important draw for the town

A project to revamp Hunstanton's bus station could be a boost for tourism, a county councillor said.

The scheme aims to make the station more useful for people exploring the north Norfolk coast on foot or by bike.

The £2m project would also see the old library building extended and transformed, with a café and space for community activities.

Conservative cabinet member for finance Andrew Jamieson said the "travel centre should be right by our new library".

The project should be completed in early 2025

Three years ago, the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk had planned to build flats on the site and have street bus stops instead.

Mr Jamieson, who is also a borough councillor, said: "I've always been much more keen that we should retain a travel centre here at the hub in Hunstanton.

"A central travel and activity hub, I think, is a very important draw for the town."

The county council scheme included better toilets, secure bike parking, and new bus shelters with real-time bus information.

Mr Jamieson said with the help of £1m of government funds to improve sustainable travel, it should attract tourists who wanted to enjoy the coast without bringing their cars.

Work to improve the coast path at Brancaster has also begun.

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One passengers said the current bus station is "a terrible advert for Hunstanton at the moment."

Jade Neil uses the "run down" bus station every day.

"I was sitting here the other day and it was raining... and the rain was coming through and the seats were quite wet," she said.

"And when it's windy, because [the shelters] are quite open, it still really cold in here if you have to sit here."

Bus driver Andrew Brunswick said the modernisation project would "improve the town".

He added: "It's the hub of where everybody comes and travels from. We need better toilets and if they do the library as well, that will be amazing."

Final designs of the hub are expected to be completed by Spring 2024.

Mr Jamieson hopes the project will be completed in early 2025.