Councils told to ‘get their act together’ and deal with safety concerns at Lancaster Bus Station

Re-development work on buildings at the corner of Wood Street and Damside Street to create student accommodation has resulted in the effective closure of two pedestrian crossings used by passengers walking between the station and the city centre.

The crossing on Wood Street has been closed completely, whilst that on Damside Street can no longer be used to reach the station.

Lancaster Bus Users’ Group is concerned that anyone entering or leaving the bus station now has to cross Damside Street where no pedestrian priority is provided.

Jim Davies, chair of the group said: “We are aware that many passengers, particularly elderly or infirm people, are having great difficulty in using the bus station following the closure of the two crossings.

“Our approaches to Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council for help in resolving the problem have merely resulted in each authority claiming that the other is responsible.

“This passing the buck is unacceptable and the Bus Users’ Group feels that it is high time that the two councils got their act together to ensure passengers can reach the bus station safely.”

The Group says that it has also been made aware that some passengers have been attempting to enter the station dangerously via the bus manoeuvring area and that Stagecoach has had to take measures, including closing half of the departure stands at quieter times, to discourage this.

Mr Davies added: “Passengers have been further inconvenienced by this and the Group feels that as the work appears likely to continue for some time it is essential that a solution is found urgently.”

The Lancaster Guardian has contacted Lancashire County and Lancaster City Councils for comment.