Tourist centre for bus station

From the archive, first published Wednesday 11th Apr 2007.

SOUTHEND'S new bus station is to incorporate a new tourist information centre.

The bureau, and a new cafe, are being added in an attempt to increase the number of facilities at the £2million pound bus station.

The move came after Southend Council was criticised for moving the town's tourist information centre from a shop in the High Street to the pier entrance.

Southend Council is also taking action to fix the doors at the front of the bus station which have been affected by mechanical problems.

It follows complaints from shoppers and bus users who criticised facilities at the new bus station on the corner of Chichester Road and Heygate Avenue.

David Garston, councillor responsible for the bus station, said: "I am pleased to say we are able to carry out the work to open the new information centre in the near future.

"Together with the new cafeteria, this will help to make the travel centre more than just a new bus station.

"We have also been able with council money to carry out work to provide more doors on the front of the travel centre.

"These are supposed to open automatically when the bus pulls up, but it has been obvious there have not been enough so we are carrying out work to provide more and ensure they operate properly."