Residents hope new Bishop Auckland bus station can revive town

Durham County Council’s proposal for the improved transport scheme has been designed with the aim of attracting more people into the town centre, and is backed by £11m of Government funding.

The bid includes plans to replace the existing bus station, on Saddler Street, as well as a new surface level car park that will offer 120 spaces.

But residents who attended a public consultation on the initial plans at Bishop Auckland Town Hall are concerned about the current state of the town’s high street and believe redevelopment there, particularly on Newgate Street, should be prioritised.

Read more: Plans for new Bishop Auckland bus station and car park revealed

Philip Brown said: “It’s a ghost town. I have seen shops close but not many open. Places like Consett have had loads of money but we’ve been forgotten.

“Eventually it could be a step in the right direction but only if they sort the shops out. It needs some regeneration but it’s got to be done the right way.”

How the inside of the bus station could look (Image: Durham County Council)

Brian and Janet Lamb have lived in the town for 30 years and regularly use buses to travel to Durham, Spennymoor and Darlington. They feel the bus station’s redevelopment could be a catalyst for redevelopment in Bishop Auckland, with the new facility acting as an attractive gateway to the town.

“I think they’re great - it’s the best way forward for the town,” Janet Lamb said. “The current bus station is inadequate; it doesn’t serve its purpose and it’s in a state of disrepair.

“We knew that this would attract a lot of negative response, with people preferring the money be used elsewhere, but the town is starting to improve.”

Visitor numbers to Bishop Auckland are expected to significantly increase through a series of regeneration projects and more car parking provision is required to meet the needs of those visiting the town, the council said.

An aerial view of the proposed new bus station and car park on Saddler Street (Image: Durham County Council)

But it is car parking charges which are currently pricing people out of visiting the town, resident Linda Campbell said. Several sites currently charge up to 60p for two hours free parking but people have called for the charges to be scrapped.

Linda added: “I don’t understand the need for more car parking, there’s too many in Bishop currently.” While Linda and her husband George are encouraged by the bus station’s refurbishment, they are less hopeful about reviving the town centre.

George said: “We walked past 12 buildings on the high street and only three were open. The only way we’re going to get people back into town is to stop charging parking fees.

“Bishop Auckland was a vibrant market town and now it doesn’t have any shops.”

There are several empty units on Newgate Street - but the council has plans to invest in the town's high street (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

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• Plans for Bishop Auckland STACK submitted as excitement builds

Residents and businesses can take part in the consultation online here until March 12. A final public event will be held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Saturday, March 4 at 10.30am until 3.30pm.

Feedback from the consultation will be used by the council to inform its planning application for the bus station and car park.