BUS STATION

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A gang of men used a crane to hoist a caravan on to the roof of the bus station in support of campaigners who are opposing the Riverlights development and destruction of the art deco bus station. One of the protesters, Dorothy Skrytek, moved onto the roof last October to protest against the Riverlights development and until then only had a tent for shelter. The men drove the lorry through a gap in a security fence and installed the caravan, complete with number plate "BU5 5TOP".

It is perched on a wide concrete ledge held up by brick pillars. "It was a whirlwind operation," Miss Skrytek said. "They had to get in and hoist the caravan up before we were spotted on the CCTV cameras and security were called. They were in and out in seven minutes flat. Even if someone had seen what was going on they would not have had time to do anything about it. I moved in and the first night was absolute luxury." Derby City Council leader Councillor Chris Williamson said, "I'll be heading down there myself to have a look. I'll ask our health and safety officers to go down as well. I'm sure it will be a health and safety issue." (Source: Daily Telegraph, Jan/06)

The redevelopment of the bus station has been put on hold because one of developer Metroholst's directors has been taken ill. A new developer is being sought to begin and complete the work with Peter Gadsby, the chairman of Miller Birch, and John Kirkland, of Bowmer & Kirkland, appearing to be the possible options. The council's contract with MetroHolst states that the developer must pay a £5m bond before demolition work can begin. This has not been paid.

The contract also gives MetroHolst until June 2007 before it has to begin work on the site. City Council leader Chris Williamson admitted, with hindsight, the council should not have closed the bus station, forcing thousands of bus passengers to queue at temporary stops. Campaigners set up camp on the roof of one of the bus station buildings in an effort to halt demolition work.

The protest follows years of campaigning by the Bus Station Action Group, which raised a 16,000-signature petition in an attempt to persuade the council to ditch its plans and, instead, refurbish the bus station. Pat Woolley, of Littleover, a leading supporter of the Bus Station Action Group, said, "The council should do the right thing, swallow its pride and open it up again. Not enough thought is being given to the travelling public."

Friends of the Earth campaigner Dorothy Skrytek, who has been one of three rooftop protesters at the site, said, "They should forget looking for another developer. They should refurbish the place and give it back to the community." Councillor Williamson said, "Had the unfortunate circumstances not incapacitated the leading director of MetroHolst, then I think we had every expectation that the work would start."

He added, "I just think it's important that we work together to find a positive way forward. We're determined to do everything we can to to ensure that the delays we've seen are not repeated." It's amazing how the incapacity of one person at MetroHolst can bring the redevelopment to a grinding halt. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Jan/2006)

Now it all becomes clear exactly to what the 'Make Poverty History' banner that was hanging outside the Council House was referring. It was not so much the Third World, rather, it was the occupants of the said building, making their own poverty history by closing down the bus station for as long as possible. Council leader, Chris Williamson remarks that "Even if we wanted to reopen the bus station we couldn't. Responsibility is with Metro- Holst."

Mr Williamson also refers to the "prohibitive" costs of reconnecting utilities and handling asbestos discovered on the site. First of all, it is amazing that at such a late stage in proceedings and after so many years they had not tracked down any records referring to the asbestos without having to resort to more invasive means of discovery. Secondly, has the council not considered the even more prohibitive costs, in the long term, of maintaining the overloaded highways immediately surrounding Riverlights, should it ever be built?

In that context, the comparatively minor costs of reconnection should be regarded as an investment rather than a burden and, in any case, it is a mess of Metro-Holst's making on what now appears to be property for which they are responsible as things stand, so natural justice should dictate that they bear the costs of clearing it up. Christopher Bentley

The new bus station will not open until autumn next year. It was due to open in January next year but Derby Riverlights Limited, the company behind the project, said design changes had forced back the opening date. Director David Osborne, said the changes were implemented after consultation with bus companies and the city council. It means passengers will now board buses directly from an indoor terminal instead of having to walk outside. Work is now due to start on the bus station in May and the delay to the bus station means the whole Riverlights complex is not due to be completed until early 2010.

Mr Osborne said, "Once we got involved in the project, it was quite clear after discussions with bus operators that they thought there could be some improvements made. Ultimately, we came to a revised scheme which satisfied the parties concerned." Council leader Chris Williamson said, "There have been a few changes that have resulted in some delays that we would have preferred to avoid but in the end we will end up with a better product so these few additional months will be worthwhile in the end." (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Mar/08)