Northampton Greyfriars bus station consultation turnout praised

Greyfriars bus station was demolished in March 2015

A councillor has praised a consultation turnout after admitting it was a "struggle to get people engaged with anything that the council does".

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) sought the views of residents on what to do with the site of the former Greyfriars bus station in Northampton.

About 1,400 people responded, which Dan Lister, WNC member for regeneration, said was "good for a consultation".

He said councillors "really do listen" to people's views.

Dan Lister, from West Northamptonshire Council, said a consultation would be used to shape the future of Greyfriars

The responses will help form outline plans to be shared in the spring, when a new stage of consultation will begin.

Among the ideas proposed by the public were an amphitheatre, outdoor spaces for sports and parks.

WNC said the bus station site, demolished in 2015, was "the largest brownfield opportunity" in the town.

Mr Lister said he wanted the area "reactivated quickly".

"It's a struggle to get people engaged with anything that the council does, which is unfortunate. We really do listen to them [consultations]," he said.

The site of the former Greyfriars bus station in Northampton remains derelict

The development area includes the former bus station site, East and West Island, the Mayorhold and Victoria Street car parks, Belgrave House and the Corn Exchange.

An idea has been put forward to temporarily turn part of the razed site into training pitches when the Women's Rugby World Cup comes to the town in 2025.