Calls made to tear down Walsall bus station

Walsall Council is working on ambitious plans to revitalise the town centre, including the £11.4 million Connected Gateway project to link the bus and railway stations and bring more people into town.

Part of that proposal could see an existing shop on Park Street knocked down to provide a clear route from St Paul’s Bus Station to the train station which is currently accessed through the Saddlers Centre and via Station Street.

The project came under the spotlight when members of the economy and environment overview and scrutiny committee discussed it.

Members called for the cabinet and officers to be radical in their plans for the town centre as it had ‘radically changed’ post-Covid-19 lockdowns.

And one radical idea put forward by Councillor Adam Hicken was to replace the bus station with a new development, such as housing, and bring services back on to Park Street.

He said: “Whilst bringing people closer to our high street and train station is a worthwhile endeavour, I’m not convinced that purchasing a shop just to knock it down is the best way to achieve this.

“Instead I believe it would be better to restore bus services to Park Street and knock down the much-hated St Paul’s Bus Station.

“This would not only deliver passengers directly into our high street, but the demolition of the bus station would create a brilliant opportunity to build something new, such as much needed housing.”

At a cabinet meeting this week, Walsall Council deputy leader Adrian Andrew said the Connected Gateway project was part of an overall £1.5 billion investment across the whole of the borough.

He said: “We presented a lot of the stuff (at the scrutiny meeting) that is happening regeneration wise in the town centre and beyond.

“There is a lot going on and a lot of people are perhaps not aware of the stuff that is going on and has gone on in the borough over the past few years.

“I’d like to move the following recommendation that the cabinet notes the important work to improve the transport links in Walsall town centre to be delivered by the Connected Gateway project.

“A more comprehensive design brief has been prepared and will shortly be brought forward for public consultation.

“The council is considering a healthy levelling up partnership with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department for Health and Social Care.

“This will provide a capital budget of approximately £20 million. The partnership is anticipated to include proposals for a range of potential housing sites and other projects around Walsall linked to the Town Deal and the future High Streets Fund.”