An iconic building which stands tall over Preston. It is the Marmite of the North which has represented the city for many years. But can the bus station remain forever? Chloe Jackson finds out.
WITH its large concrete blocks, grey walls, chilling draft and angled architecture, it’s no wonder why Preston bus station has been likened to a communist Prison. The 44-year-old building has been the top of the news agenda recently; first to keep it standing, then when it was given grade II listed status and this week being taken over by Lancashire County Council. Its need is declining, so does Preston really need it?
Some claim that the renowned bus station stands as one of the biggest in Europe, with 80 double decker bus stands and car parking for as many as 1,100 cars. A building designed for heavy use. But in the forty something years since it was built, its need has declined and as little as 38 bus stands are used, according to a report in 2012.
John Wilson, a retired Senior Construction Manager, started the Save Preston Bus Station campaign when it was announced that the £700million Tithebarn redevelopment would demolish the station.
“From my working experience, I imagined how the council would be sat around a big table making the decisions without consulting the Prestonians,” said Mr. Wilson.
Mr. Wilson began devoting his time, sending letters to the council opposing the demolition of the building and set up Save Preston Bus Station campaign, while gaining a large following of over 4,000 on social media and collecting 1,550 petition signatures which were presented to the council. He even became a candidate for the Labour party, so he can push further to fight for the station.
The retired man no longer seemed retired, taking on a role and becoming the fighting force behind the campaign.
The hard work, the nationwide publicity, where representatives of the campaign appeared on national television and the dedication all paid off when Preston bus station was awarded grade II listed status in September.
Some claim that the renowned bus station stands as one of the biggest in Europe, with 80 double decker bus stands and car parking for as many as 1,100 cars. A building designed for heavy use. But in the forty something years since it was built, its need has declined and as little as 38 bus stands are used, according to a report in 2012.
John Wilson, a retired Senior Construction Manager, started the Save Preston Bus Station campaign when it was announced that the £700million Tithebarn redevelopment would demolish the station.
“From my working experience, I imagined how the council would be sat around a big table making the decisions without consulting the Prestonians,” said Mr. Wilson.
Mr. Wilson began devoting his time, sending letters to the council opposing the demolition of the building and set up Save Preston Bus Station campaign, while gaining a large following of over 4,000 on social media and collecting 1,550 petition signatures which were presented to the council. He even became a candidate for the Labour party, so he can push further to fight for the station.
The retired man no longer seemed retired, taking on a role and becoming the fighting force behind the campaign.
The hard work, the nationwide publicity, where representatives of the campaign appeared on national television and the dedication all paid off when Preston bus station was awarded grade II listed status in September.
"A cringe worthy joke"
By this point, the Save Preston Bus Station march through the city had already been planned. On the day of the March at the beginning of the month, around 200 took to the streets of Preston, armed with cardboard models and a speakerphone. The turnout was described by some as “a cringe worthy joke,” though many argued that the grade II listing which came through before the march took place was a factor in less people showing up. It begged the question, do so many people really care?
Preston Bus have 70 of their buses going through the station per day, Monday to Friday, with fewer at the weekend.
Fiona Whalley, Marketing Manager for the company said: “It [the bus station] can be a cold, hard environment for both customers and people working there.
“We have tried to improve the bus station environment for our customers – a couple of years ago we repainted our bus stands, improved timetable information and signage. We also took over an empty retail unit on the station and moved our travel centre into it.”
If it were to get to the stage where the bus station was demolished, it would have a great effect on the company itself. Fiona added: “During demolition and building work the effects on the whole transport infrastructure of Preston would likely be dramatic, given that the project would be huge and long term. In those circumstances we would see it as a challenge we would have to face and overcome.”
But Preston bus station, as it is now – the large, concreted building – isn’t important to the company, based on its structure and history. “We would say “a” bus station is important, but not necessarily “the” bus station,” said Fiona.
Having said this, there is no doubt Preston needs a bus station. Fiona added: “I’d say that public transport in Preston is better with the concentrated location of a bus station. If buses were stopping at various locations throughout the city rather than the bus station, traffic congestion would almost certainly worsen.”
Preston Bus have 70 of their buses going through the station per day, Monday to Friday, with fewer at the weekend.
Fiona Whalley, Marketing Manager for the company said: “It [the bus station] can be a cold, hard environment for both customers and people working there.
“We have tried to improve the bus station environment for our customers – a couple of years ago we repainted our bus stands, improved timetable information and signage. We also took over an empty retail unit on the station and moved our travel centre into it.”
If it were to get to the stage where the bus station was demolished, it would have a great effect on the company itself. Fiona added: “During demolition and building work the effects on the whole transport infrastructure of Preston would likely be dramatic, given that the project would be huge and long term. In those circumstances we would see it as a challenge we would have to face and overcome.”
But Preston bus station, as it is now – the large, concreted building – isn’t important to the company, based on its structure and history. “We would say “a” bus station is important, but not necessarily “the” bus station,” said Fiona.
Having said this, there is no doubt Preston needs a bus station. Fiona added: “I’d say that public transport in Preston is better with the concentrated location of a bus station. If buses were stopping at various locations throughout the city rather than the bus station, traffic congestion would almost certainly worsen.”
"It's an iconic structure...it keeps that end of the city alive."
Mick Tickle, Preston bus station’s Building, Cleaning and Parking Manager, believes the bus station is important in different ways to Fiona.
He said: “[The bus station is] very important as it is an iconic structure, although it is not co-located with the train station it keeps that end of the city alive.”
The Save Preston Bus Station campaign wasn’t productive in his opinion, however. “It did not do anyone any favours, as it scuppered any redevelopment of the site after the demolition had took place.
“With the transfer of ownership I hope that enough investment can be found to really address the issues that the station has and that passenger experience is improved by an updated facility,” Mr. Tickle added.
Peter Rankin, leader of Preston City Council, spoke to Route Preston before the proposed ownership was announced. He said: “I’m disappointed it [Preston bus station] has been listed. It does mean we’ve got to rethink what we do with the bus station and how we deal with the transport situation in Preston.”
Mr. Rankin estimated that the cost to keep the station open per year is around £300,000. “A big worry we had about it is that it’s very expensive to repair the building and it could potentially cost us a minimum of £5.5million over the next few years, which is quite scary for a council which is facing very big financial challenges at the moment.”
He said: “[The bus station is] very important as it is an iconic structure, although it is not co-located with the train station it keeps that end of the city alive.”
The Save Preston Bus Station campaign wasn’t productive in his opinion, however. “It did not do anyone any favours, as it scuppered any redevelopment of the site after the demolition had took place.
“With the transfer of ownership I hope that enough investment can be found to really address the issues that the station has and that passenger experience is improved by an updated facility,” Mr. Tickle added.
Peter Rankin, leader of Preston City Council, spoke to Route Preston before the proposed ownership was announced. He said: “I’m disappointed it [Preston bus station] has been listed. It does mean we’ve got to rethink what we do with the bus station and how we deal with the transport situation in Preston.”
Mr. Rankin estimated that the cost to keep the station open per year is around £300,000. “A big worry we had about it is that it’s very expensive to repair the building and it could potentially cost us a minimum of £5.5million over the next few years, which is quite scary for a council which is facing very big financial challenges at the moment.”
The iconic architecture, which is truly what makes Preston bus station the renowned building it has become, is one of the main reasons the station hasn't been demolished so far.
Angela Brady, president of the UK’s Royal Institute of British Architects, has campaigned alongside Save Preston Bus Station and represented the campaign’s views on BBC’s The Culture Show.
“I don’t see why people should make the decision on fashion. Very often buildings are knocked down based on fashion and we’re left with nothing.
“Preston bus station is an iconic building of good quality,” Ms. Brady said.
Preston City Council suggested restoring the building would cost more to restore than demolish. Ms. Brady does not think this is an excuse, however.
“You have to look beyond the cost. It is not a factor otherwise many buildings would be knocked down. It should not be a council decision, but the people’s decision,” she added.
Ms. Brady believes that the style of the building being categorised as “brutalist,” has not done it any favours either.
The phrase was coined in the 1950s and comes from the French word béton brut which translates to “raw concrete.”
“It’s a good thing the bus station has changed ownership. I am delighted,” Ms. Brady said.
Angela Brady, president of the UK’s Royal Institute of British Architects, has campaigned alongside Save Preston Bus Station and represented the campaign’s views on BBC’s The Culture Show.
“I don’t see why people should make the decision on fashion. Very often buildings are knocked down based on fashion and we’re left with nothing.
“Preston bus station is an iconic building of good quality,” Ms. Brady said.
Preston City Council suggested restoring the building would cost more to restore than demolish. Ms. Brady does not think this is an excuse, however.
“You have to look beyond the cost. It is not a factor otherwise many buildings would be knocked down. It should not be a council decision, but the people’s decision,” she added.
Ms. Brady believes that the style of the building being categorised as “brutalist,” has not done it any favours either.
The phrase was coined in the 1950s and comes from the French word béton brut which translates to “raw concrete.”
“It’s a good thing the bus station has changed ownership. I am delighted,” Ms. Brady said.
What should be done next?
What should be done next? “Hold an international design competition to find new uses, encouraging young entrepreneurs, start-ups, inviting the public and TV programmes. It needs to now have a push forward to make it better,” said Ms. Brady.
It’s a building of enormous importance to the Preston people. It has become a large part of Preston itself. Everyone who was interviewed for this article said that the building needed refurbishing. That is a fact.
This could be the exact reason Preston has fallen in love with the building. It’s like an old car.
We complain about it, how it’s not running like it used to and how it could do with an upgrade. But we’ve become over familiar and we could always add a new engine or get it re-sprayed.
So maybe it’s down to over familiarity and the fact that letting go of such an iconic building would be too hard.
See what happened when we asked what you thought.
It’s a building of enormous importance to the Preston people. It has become a large part of Preston itself. Everyone who was interviewed for this article said that the building needed refurbishing. That is a fact.
This could be the exact reason Preston has fallen in love with the building. It’s like an old car.
We complain about it, how it’s not running like it used to and how it could do with an upgrade. But we’ve become over familiar and we could always add a new engine or get it re-sprayed.
So maybe it’s down to over familiarity and the fact that letting go of such an iconic building would be too hard.
See what happened when we asked what you thought.