Dear Mr. Button Thank you for your letter dated 5th September 2005 which I received this morning. Our concerns regarding the proposed Bus Interchange are as follows:
1. With only 15 stands we do not believe that this will cope with existing departures let alone any increase in services caused by the demand from passengers using services to the east of Chester which presently terminate in Frodsham/Foregate St.
2. There is insufficient lay over spaces for buses. Drivers coming in from Rhyll after a 2 hour journey will obviously wish to use the facilities before returning.
3. I personally am unhappy with a drive in reverse out bus interchange.
4. I do not believe that the public can be kept from walking behind the vehicles. As an example a bus full of school children comes into the Bus Interchange. There is no stand available, yet they can see their onward buses on the stands. They will open the emergency door and pile out and the driver will be unable to stop them.
5, From the passenger point of view in this day and age to have a canvas awning overhead, both ends open to winds and then shoulder high glass blocks in front stopping the wind and rain. How modern is this ? I feel that certain parties should go to modern bus interchanges which are warm, welcoming, seats, sliding doors and speak to passengers there. What facilities will there be for passengers ?
6. Control of the Interchange and information systems for the passengers are important.
7. Disabled. It is planned to-.have a mobility outlet next to the Interchange however no provision has been made for Dial-a-Ride vehicles to drop off passengers in the vicinity.
However I must stress finally that I am not opposed to the City Centre development. Chester has to compete with the out of town shopping centres. The Consultant referred to Chester as having a dumbbell shape with the Markey and development at one end and Foregate St etc at the other but with no transport links between and I believe that this needs further consideration. Yours sincerely
Stuart Hyslop, Managing Director
Company Registered Office: Station Road, Chester Registered in Cardiff Reg. No. 2004962 V.A.T Reg. No. 453 5037 61
Chester Market
used to be situated on Northgate Street next to the Town Hall, where it traded for over 100 years before moving to the current site in Princess Street in
1967. The lively city of Chester, is steeped in history and, and has been attracting shoppers looking for bargains for thousands of years.
The earliest mention of Chester Market was in 1139, when the first shopping charter was issued in
1208 and 'the men of Chester and heirs' were granted the privilege of sole selling rights, except the annual fairs which were fair game for
all-comers.
Henry III confirmed this in 1239 and so it remained right up to until the Great Charter 1506, which gave
Chester its first mayor. With a sharp eye for business, the local boys wasted no time in expanding shopping opportunities to include coal and cattle markets
among other enterprises. The famous Rows were originally named after the trading that went on. There was a Shoemakers, Cooks and Ironmongers Row - and a
Pepper Alley and Fish Shambles. Then came Linen Hall, the Fruit, Root & Herb Market...indeed Chester sold practically every thing!
The horse, cloth and cheese fairs of old were to be the natural forerunners of today's magnificent array of
shops, not forgetting the bustling town centre market, which has continued for centuries, by order of king and queen.
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