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Station fan drops appeal to council
John Wilson gave a presentation to the council earlier this month
A bus station enthusiast has dropped his campaign over the future of the building.
John Wilson, 64, of Fulwood, secured 1,435 names on a petition to trigger a debate by the city’s council on whether to hold a referendum on the issue earlier this month.
Mr Wilson said he will not appeal against the decision and “has drawn a line under chasing Preston City Council”.
But he has put forward a proposal to transform the bus station, which was due to be demolished as part of the Tithebarn regeneration scheme, into a 1960s-themed transport and cultural hub.
Coun Peter Rankin, council leader, has admitted demolition is an option and, on Saturday, the Evening Post reported how the Liberal Democrat party has put forward proposals to demolish the building, sparking a debate online.
But Mr Wilson believes, with funding, it could be home to attractions including a themed bar and restaurants, a coffee shop with a jukebox, a record and poster shop, a cinema and clothes shop, all with a 1960s theme. He said: “It is exciting and workable with the investment and passion that this building and Preston deserves.”
He proposes one side could be used for the attraction, with the other used for bus and coach services, as well as a shuttle to the train station and proposed new bus interchange.
Mr Wilson has written to councillors to outline his plans, as well as property group Lend Lease, commercial property firm Land Securities, architects BDP and design expert Ben Casey, co-founder of the National Football Museum. He created the idea with Kay Fairclough, of Preston, who works for a London video production firm.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Comments
There are 46 comments to this article
Page 1 of 4
brookss4
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 06:37 PMNo you cant be jealous I live in Northampton, I have a council voted the worst in the country in 2007 and a county council who arent much better.
AdoptedByPreston
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:30 PM#41 - Out of interest who is your local council? Should we be jealous - are you somewhere with single tier local government?
brookss4
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:27 PMThought so, although I disagree with some of the finer points, I do applaud you for some of the posts you make.
River
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:21 AMThat was fun Brookss.
brookss4
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:01 PMI do remember you river at my grandads, loved the brolly round your neck. ;)
brookss4
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:00 PMnot LCC either fraids.
AdoptedByPreston
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:45 PM#36 - If you're not under PCC you can still start a petition on the LCC site, a very similar system.
caretaker
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:19 PMJohn Wilson # 38, Thank you for that information!, some sense at last from the powers that be!.
Gianni
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:09 PM§... UPDATE & Reply from PCC... This is now final... The Governance Director submitted a report giving details of an e-petition received on 4 November 2011 which once validated was made active. The petition called for a referendum on Preston Bus Station and was submitted by Mr John Wilson who also submitted a paper petition to run alongside the electronic version. The petition had triggered in excess of the 1350 signatories necessary to request a debate at full Council.... Mr Wilson gave a five minute presentation to Members on the reasons for his petition.... Members then debated the petition request fully and the Leader assured Mr Wilson that the Bus Station was to be discussed and debated further as part of regeneration plans for the whole City and not just in isolation.... The Mayor then put the matter to the vote and it was Resolved – (i) That the request for a referendum on Preston Bus Station be refused; however by way of response to the petition, the Council will undertake a range of consultation activities when considering the future of the bus station; and (ii) that Mr Wilson be thanked for submitting his petition and for attending full Council to give his presentation. In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor T Cartwright requested that his vote against the above motion, at (i) above, be recorded...This is not the end... Consultation will take place and a further debate will ensue. JW...
River
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:48 PMBrooks, having a decent public transport system, and valuing the people who use it is something worth campaigning for. In Preston it's mainly working class people and pensioners that use the buses, which is why the council thinks that we don't matter, and don't deserve a decent bus station.
brookss4
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:12 PM#35 great idea but not a pcc resident.
AdoptedByPreston
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 02:46 PM#34 - Then write a petition on it? Anyone can start a petition on the Preston Council website, it's open to all. John picked a topic close to his heart and I'm supportive of that cause. If you can create a petition that addresses the issues you listed I imagine I'd be happy to sign that too.
brookss4
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 01:28 PM#33 granted, to which we both agree, what I annoys me is this single issue guy, he should put his efforts in something that benefits the town, whether we have a throw back from the 1960's or a modern bus station, a bus station is a bus station. When we have families starving, people living in the streets and a housing list with thousands on, surely this is what we should be writing petitions about.
AdoptedByPreston
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:59 PMIsn't a petition always about a single issue? Isn't that the point? LCC are responsible for public transport, PCC are responsible the owners of the bus station - the problem is that PCC kowtow to LCC and don't have the proverbials to represent what appears to be the popular public opinion that the bus station should say. Furthermore LCC are spouting that the current bus station isn't fit for purpose and instead of working with PCC to modernise it they are chasing the idea of creating some collection of bus stops near the train station (and their offices), calling it an interchange and leaving the Tithebarn end of town to suffer from prolonged blight for evermore. It's all part of the fun of having two tier local government.
brookss4
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:41 PMAs I said position is the position were are in regardless of John (single isse) Gianni's petition. The bus station should be funded by the LCC, the land is Preston Bus', so in reality lets lease the bus station running to LCC, and keep the car park. Simples.
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