The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Firms at bus station could be forced out
PERTH: New transport hub likely to render terminal obsolete
Businesses at Perth bus station could be forced out as part of a multi-million-pound redevelopment project.
Traders have been warned the ageing terminal could be torn down while a new, merged bus and train interchange is developed elsewhere in the city.
The Leonard Street station site has now been earmarked for a new hotel, housing or leisure – or could be transformed into an improved bus station – as part of a council masterplan.
The move has angered passengers, as well as the owners of the Bus-Y-Bite cafe which has operated out of the station for 20 years.
RS McColl, which also runs a branch at the site, has confirmed it is already looking to relocate.
Perth and Kinross Council, which owns the bus station, said new lease negotiations were under way with both tenants.
Council bosses are preparing to oust bus station businesses to pave the way for a multi-million-pound redevelopment.
Traders at the busy Perth terminal have been warned they could be forced out as part of ambitious plans for a new transport hub.
The planned interchange is likely to merge both bus and train stations, although details have yet to be released.
The station was recently likened to an eastern European housing block from the 1950s by former councillor Alan Livingstone.
According to letters sent out to shopkeepers just before Christmas, the one-and-a-half acre site could be transformed into a hotel, leisure facility, offices or housing “if an alternative location for the bus station is found”.
The move has come as a shock to passengers, as well as the owner of a cafe which has operated at the station for 20 years.
Mary Graham, who runs the Bus ‘Y’ Bite outlet with her daughter, Christine, said: “I received the letter from the council on Christmas Eve and phoned them but they were closed for around two weeks.”
The cafe owners recently agreed a new lease with the council and negotiations are now under way for a new “three-year term with annual mutual break options” – which the Graham family say is effectively a yearly lease. Mrs Graham, 52, said: “We were absolutely shocked by this decision as this cafe is our livelihood. I’ve run the cafe here for 20 years and have lots of loyal customers who are angered by this move.
“When I eventually got through to the council, an employee told me there was no timeline on this proposal and that a new bus station would either be built at the rail station or at Broxden. I don’t know what we’re going to do once the bus station closes.”
Christine Graham, 31, added: “The council should have spent money on the bus station. It’s been allowed to deteriorate over the past 20 years. However, this is still the best site for a bus station as it’s so central.
“We have at least three customers who come in here before boarding their buses who are aged in their nineties and they are devastated that the station may close.”
A spokesman for RS McColl’s, which has a branch at the station, confirmed the business will not be objecting and is already looking to relocate.
The council hopes the new transport hub will attract more tourists and has been in talks with both Scotrail and Network Rail regarding the proposal.
A local authority spokeswoman said: “We are in communication with both tenants for renewal of their leases for another three-year term incorporating annual mutual break options.
“Both current leases are coming to an end and it is standard practice that a notice is served in this process and there is an ongoing dialogue as part of the new lease terms to be agreed.”
The station has been allowed to deteriorate over the past 20 years. However, this is still the best site. CHRISTINE GRAHAM BUS ‘Y’ BITE CAFE