What does the return of Colchester's old bus station mean?

The public anger surrounding the closure of Colchester's bus station in 2012 was clear.

In fact, 18,000 people signed a petition demanding the site off Queen Street was saved.

The station was demolished to make way for a new cultural quarter in the town and while there were lofty ambitions for the land, most never materialised.

With its piles of rubble and overgrown shrubs, the site at Painters Yard today is a striking juxtaposition to the ultra-modern Firstsite art gallery that opened next door.

Fourteen years on from its closure, Essex County Council and Colchester City Council have announced bus services will return to part of the original plot.

Expected to cost up to £25m, they hope it will open by 2029.

"It should never have gone in the first place," says Sir Bob Russell, who was Colchester's Liberal Democrat MP between 1997 and 2015.

"My office overlooked the station for years and I saw how busy it was."

Residents at the time told the BBC closing the station would reduce footfall in the town centre and increase traffic.

Such was the anger, a petition demanding it be spared was set up - attracting 18,000 signatories.

Many could not understand how a service that had been part of Colchester's fabric for decades was no longer needed.

"We were promised all sorts of new sites, none of which ever happened," Sir Bob recalls.

While Firstsite transformed part of the area, the rest became something of an eyesore.

Plans for 336 student flats and a Travelodge were submitted in late 2018, but Essex County Council put the brakes on the project due to a covenant it held on the land.

Meanwhile, bus services were moved to Osborne Street, where a small shelter was built for waiting passengers.

However, the perceived lack of infrastructure meant it was only ever a glorified bus stop, according to Sir Bob, now Colchester's high steward.

"It was never a bus station, even though there are 13 signs saying so," he says of the site's legacy.

"It was bus stops on a road, but no more than that."

The return of bus services to Queen Street appears to signal both Essex County Council and Colchester City Council have conceded the Osborne Street provision has not been a success.

Colchester - crowned a city in 2022 - has continued to grow and demand for bus services has increased significantly.

Without changes, it is estimated Osborne Street could be handling about four times the amount of usage it was designed for within 15 years.

"I don't think it's ever been as bad as people say, but clearly it lacks capacity, good places to wait, it's not particularly appealing and it doesn't work very well for bus companies," says Paul Dundas, the city council's Conservative leader.

Council forecasts show up to 25 bus stops and five layover bays are needed. Officials hope this can be provided at the new station.

Dundas says returning to Painters Yard followed "a lot of analysis - and that site has come up top".

"It seems daft, frankly, not to put it in the best position because some people might criticise us for going back to where it was," he declares.

For the first time, residents have been given a glimpse at what it could look like and are invited to share their views in a consultation.

Dundas encouraged them to get involved and said all views would be considered.

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