Merry Hill bus station to get £10m overhaul

The bus station at Merry Hill Shopping Centre is to undergo a £10 million revamp, it was announced today. The Government is giving £5m towards it.

The overhaul of the station comes after it was rated the worst by the region's passengers.

The project also aims to improve bus services going to and from the giant shopping complex and neighbouring Waterfront Business Park, where 8,000 people are employed.

New eco-friendly buses will be introduced and bus lanes and gates installed to allow the vehicles to avoid queuing traffic. The new lanes and gates will be put in The Boulevard in Brierley Hill.

Centro and Dudley Council drew up the Better Bus Area project, which has now received Government backing.

Currently, only 10 per cent of the 21 million annual visitors to the shopping centre go there by bus.

The aim is to improve that and reduce traffic congestion around the centre and the business park as well.

Brierley Hill councillor Zafar Islam said: "Hopefully improving services around Waterfront will encourage new businesses to move in or encourage employers who have left to re-think their decision to leave."