Latest news with #StuartWalker
The Courier
5 days ago
- General
- The Courier
Dundee bus station toilets closed indefinitely due to 'repeated and severe vandalism'
The toilets at Dundee bus station have been closed indefinitely due to 'repeated and severe vandalism'. Stagecoach East Scotland, which runs the station, says 'several approaches' to reducing anti-social behaviour in the facilities have not worked. As a result, passengers can no longer use the Seagate toilets, except for disabled visitors. It has not been confirmed if the toilets will reopen. Bus user Stuart Walker, 62, from Inverkeilor in Angus, contacted The Courier to express his disappointment at the move. He said: 'It's a legal requirement for motorway service stations to provide toilets 24/7, so why isn't it for bus stations? 'With the exception of Radar key holders (for disabled toilets) there are no alternatives nearby. 'No reference has been made to other options inside the bus station.' A sign in the station says the toilets are shut due to 'repeated and severe vandalism'. It adds: 'Despite our efforts, including restricted opening hours and installing a barrier system, we have been unable to prevent the damage. 'However, the disabled toilet remains open on the main road (Seagate) for Radar key holders.' Stuart added: 'There is a toilet in the cafe across the road, which you can use if you buy a coffee. 'Your only other options are at the shopping centre or in the city centre. 'Most Stagecoach vehicles don't have toilets. 'Even the (larger) X7 vehicles sometimes don't have a toilet. 'This is an important inter-city coach station, and the lack of facilities cannot help Dundee's image to visitors.' A Stagecoach East Scotland spokesperson said: 'Unfortunately, the toilets at Dundee bus station have had to be closed due to ongoing and serious vandalism. 'Over time, we've tried several approaches like reducing opening hours and installing barriers. 'Unfortunately, these measures haven't been enough to prevent repeated damage. 'It's reached a point where it's no longer safe or practical to keep the facilities open. 'The accessible toilet remains available for Radar key holders. 'While there are still occasional issues, the level of misuse is much lower and currently manageable. 'We understand how important public toilets are and we're continuing to look at long-term solutions that balance accessibility with safety.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Premier Inn will provide 'significant' economic boost to Carlisle
A PROPOSED new Premier Inn in Carlisle will give the city a 'significant' economic boost, according to the leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer. Cumberland Council announced on Wednesday, May 14, that Whitebread PLC, the parent company of the Premier Inn hotel chain, had secured the former Central Plaza site in Carlisle and intends to turn it into a new 104-bedroom hotel. The 'Citadel View' site was previously home to the Grade II Central Plaza Hotel, which was demolished and cleared during 2020 after falling into disrepair in 2011. The council, in partnership with property consultant CBRE, initially sought proposals from potential developers to redevelop the Victoria Viaduct site back in 2023 and has now selected Whitbread as the preferred developer due to the 'strength of its proposal' for the regeneration of the site. Whitbread intends to submit a planning application for the new hotel this summer and is targeting an opening date before the end of 2028. The view of the site from the street (Image: Stuart Walker) Speaking to the News & Star at the site of the proposed Premier Inn on Wednesday, May 14, Cllr Mark Fryer expressed his belief that the new hotel will provide a 'significant' economic boost to Carlisle. He said: "This hotel will give Carlisle a significant economic boost, there is no doubt about that. "This will be the fifth Premier Inn in Carlisle, and that shows that Whitbread and others think that the city is a great place to invest. "This site has been sitting like this for probably ten years, and I knew that if we were to have a significant impact in places like Carlisle and all the other towns we have got, it is their type of project. "It has taken us two years to get here, and we have got a partner in Whitbread who are looking to develop the site out. The location of the site on Victoria Viaduct (Image: Stuart Walker) "We are going to planning in the next few months so they can then start to release their project team to develop the hotel." The announcement of the impending development of the former Central Plaza comes in the midst of a number of projects being undertaken by Cumberland Council to regenerate Carlisle, including the ongoing Market Square and Greenmarket work. In addition, metres from the site of the proposed Premier Inn, Devonshire Street remains closed until June as the council moves into the next phase of the Southern Gateway project, with Cllr Fryer discussing the current dynamic of disruption and development in the city. Cllr Mark Fryer spoke to the press at the site on Wednesday (Image: Stuart Walker) He said: "It is an exciting time for the city... perversely, the more disruption you have is because you are more successful, and that is the key to it. "We have to limit the disruption, but also develop the city and improve it. "To economically develop the city, there is going to be some form of disruption, but in the end, it is always positive."
