Preston residents don't want their bus station demolished

Author: Joe Elvin - 04 January 2013

Most people living in Preston don't want the city's iconic bus station to be demolished.

In an online poll, seven out of every ten local residents said they wanted the station to stay, with 18 per cent stating that they currently use it every day.

Preston City Council say it is cheaper to demolish the building than it is to renovate it - and that it would take a 24 per cent rise in council tax in order for them to keep the building standing. Three quarters of those polled would be unwilling to pay that.

This supports the council's views that the demolition is in the taxpayer's best interests.

In an interview with lep.co.uk, council leader Peter Rankin explained: "I would like to keep the bus station but I cannot ignore the fact that it costs a lot of money the council cannot afford. We are trying to find a solution we are talking with people about it to try and find a way forward."

The bus station is certainly well loved by the city. Almost half of the survey's respondents described the bus terminal design as an "architectural gem". Nearly three quarters believed it is a "nationally recognised" building.

According to guardian.co.uk, there have been a number of protests against the council's decision.