From 'a good idea' to 'ridiculous' - Grimsby bus users make of transport hub plans
There is lukewarm support for a transport hub between Osborne Street and Garden Street, Grimsby, if town centre bus users on a weekday afternoon are anything to go by.
Grimsby Live went to Grimsby town centre to ask people's views on the transport hub proposal. North East Lincolnshire Council's cabinet agreed last week to the first phase to make the transport hub a reality, demolition of mostly vacant units it owns in Osborne Street.
We spoke to those likely to be most affected by the hub idea - passengers queuing up at bus stops near Riverhead Square. All stops in George Street, Victoria Street West, Town Hall Street, and Town Hall Square, would go and be consolidated in the transport hub, adjacent to Grimsby Town Railway Station.
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The majority of responses were sceptical about the change, and some were not in favour because of the increased distance from Freshney Place shopping centre. The hub would be further away than current Victoria Street West stops next to Riverhead Square, but still a few minutes' walk from the shopping centre.
'A good idea' to 'ridiculous'
"I only use the Waltham service and it can be a bit dodgy," said Dion Minett, 89, at Town Hall Square. There were sometimes delays, leading to two Waltham services arriving at once, he said, but he later added it was not a bad service. He did know about the hub plan, and called it "a good idea".
Walking towards Riverhead, Becky Burton was unconvinced of the merits of a hub between Osborne Street and Garden Street. Asked if she thought it a good idea, she replied: "No, I think it's ridiculous."
"Well, they've spent all that money for this one," she said, looking towards the former Riverhead Exchange super-stop that closed in 2019 due to lack of use, "and it's not stayed open."
"I've got elderly parents who won't be able to walk to the shopping centre," she suggested, with the hub's location.
Thelma, boarding a Cleethorpes bus in Victoria Street West by Riverhead, had not heard of the hub. Far from the only bus user spoken to who had no knowledge. Told about it, she was sceptical about the demolition of vacant Osborne Street units.
"Surely, it would be better to utilise these buildings for somebody to try to generate a business that would employ youngsters. She added there were lots in town, regularly "causing mayhem".
"It doesn't make sense." She was more concerned about the number of empty homes in Grimsby, and housing homeless people in them. "Why not get a decorator in?" she said, referring to ones in Eleanor Street area.
She also mentioned Welholme Galleries' continued disuse. The site is for sale by the council. There are more than 2,000 homes empty for six months or more in the borough. The council and its partner Equans try to bring 40 or so back to use each year, and have to work with landlords first. Recently, the council compulsory bought several homes for temporary homeless accommodation, and Afghan refugees.
Signage at the hub
Paddy liked the current bus stop layout. "I like it here because I know when they're coming in and out," he said at a stop in Victoria Street West, by Riverhead Square. "It's the best one really," he said of the current location.
He wanted the hub to have clear instructions for each bus. "If you do it, get the signs up so people know where the buses are going."
"I think it's the most central it's ever been," said Simon Yeo, of the current bus stops. On it being located by the railway station, he said: "It's not exactly a through stop as there's not many people coming there. To my mind, it's not a sound proposition," he said.
Esther was another user who liked the current stops' proximity to Freshney Place. "It's convenient having the bus here across, especially if you've got a lot of shopping, it's right outside."
"There's lot of things they could be throwing money at in Grimsby town centre," she said, noting Top Town Market's quietness. "It's just further to carry the heavy shopping, from my point of view," she said of the hub's location.
Ben McCleod said of the current arrangement: "To be honest, I think it's working." He said of the bus services: "They're pretty good. They're delayed every now and again, but the roads are crazy, what do you expect?" He felt the stops were fine as they were.