Newport bus station plagued by delays opens

Up to 3 million passengers a year are expected to use the new bus station

A new bus station built as part of the £100m regeneration of Newport city centre is opening later following months of delays.

Services which used the old station near Kingsway will transfer to the new terminus near Newport Market.

The station was moved to make way for the long-awaited Friars Walk shopping and leisure complex.

A second bus terminus next to the shopping centre will be linked up once the development is completed.

Work on the new bus station, expected to be used by up to 3 million passengers a year, was due to be completed in October.

But a delay in the approval of funding from the Welsh government pushed the development back, a council spokeswoman said.

An investigation into the reasons for the delay is ongoing.

'Frustration'

Demolition work has started in the John Frost Square area of the city, which will eventually see the removal of shops, the redundant Capitol car park and the former bus station.

It controversially included the demolition of a 35m (115ft) mosaic commemorating the 1830 Chartist uprising.

The former bus station will be demolished

Building work on Friars Walk is due to begin early next year.

Councillor Ken Critchley, Newport's cabinet member for infrastructure, said the bus station upgrade was an essential part of the city centre regeneration.

"I appreciate that the delay to its completion has been trying and I have shared that frustration," he said.

"However, the new terminus and other regeneration work in this area should help to give the market quarter another positive boost following the completion of the revamped market entrance."

Now the former bus station is closed, new temporary taxi ranks will be created in Baneswell Road, Queensway, North Street, Corn Street and Upper Dock Street in addition to existing ranks.