SLOW COACH DIGBETH FINALLY GETS A MOVE ON

29-10-2007

The long-waited revamp of Digbeth Coach station - one of Birmingham's worst grotspots - moves a step closer today, with the submission of plans to the City Council of a £15 million copper-clad facelift.

Assuming planning permission is granted - and that seems a foregone conclusion - the existing station will close next month, and work on the upgraded version will start before Christmas.

In the meantime, there'll be temporary stop across the road in the old VW garage.

The coach station has long been regarded - much like New Street Station - as a poor advert for the city, and there were plans to relocate it to Great Charles Street on the edge of Jewellery Quarter.

That was scuppered when developers warned that it would clash with the area's burgeoning residential developments.

As a result Birmingham won't enjoy the futuristic "state of the art" building it was once promised - but let's face it, almost anything is an improvement on what we've got now.

When Digbeth re-opens in 2009, there will be two extra coach bays, 15 car-parking spaces, a "drop off" zone in Mill Street, and new shops fronting on to the High Street.

National Express Chief Executive Paul Bunting said, "A brand new modern coach station will greatly enhance people's experience of coach travel in Birmingham and around the UK.

"We are totally committed to delivering this project, which will assist with the regeneration of Digbeth, the Eastside and the Irish Quarter and provide a landmark gateway into the City Centre."

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