Coach terminal at Paddington
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• A decision on the siting of the new London Coach terminal is expected very soon, now London Regional Transport has completed its public consultation programme.
A spokesman for LRT says, "Ideally we would like to have a new coach terminal operational by 1990. We know that maybe that is a little optimistic, so there won't be too much loss of face if we fail to meet it, but it is a target we are hoping to aim for."
Both the site at Vauxhall and the site at Paddington are still under consideration. The threat of a new development at the Paddington site by Grainhurst Properties remains, but the spokesman says a coach terminal could be incorporated into Grainhurst's plans, as long as a decision is made fairly soon.
Before a final decision is made on the site of the coach terminal — and LRT still in sists it may decide not to build a terminal — the Government will be advised of LRT's choice_ Paddington appears to be the most likely choice for the new terminal. Consultants Steer, Davies and Gleave produced a report for LRT which reconunended Paddington, because it is more attractive to private finance.
LR'f estimates that a coach terminal at Paddington would cost around £38 million to build, compared with £46 million for a terminal at Vauxhall. Additional investment, this time from public funds, would be required at either site to improve Underground links.
There has been considerable public opposition to the development of a coach terminal at either site, but LRT is still confident that it can get the go-ahead for the terminal without the delay caused by a public enquiry. It has drawn-up a bill which would allow parliament to approve the development without going through the normal planning process.
The existing London Coach Terminal at Victoria will probably be retained in the future, despite the plans for a new terminal. LRT says the terminal could operate as an alighting point for services into the capital on commuter journeys. This would be possible, claims LRT, even when one of the existing leases for the site (representing 16% of the area) is terminated in a few years' time.