MP calls for the reopening of Barnstaple Bus Station

North Devon’s MP has called for the reinstatement of the toilets and waiting area at Barnstaple Bus Station after they closed during lockdown and were never reopened.

Selaine Saxby has launched a campaign to reopen the building after numerous complaints from constituents fed up waiting for buses in the cold and with no access to a toilet.

One said it must give visitors the impression of ‘a wretched little town’ if it couldn’t even provide public toilets.

North Devon Council, which owns the building, has said it is not safe to reopen the toilets due to anti-social behaviour and criminal activities in an unmanned building as well as the facilities being at the end of their lifespan.

The council has said it is working with Barnstaple Town Council to try and reopen the building and bring it back into use.

The bus station building closed during the pandemic lockdown and the café that was once on the ground floor was unable to continue.

It means that anyone waiting for a bus now has no access to toilets and must wait out in the ‘half shelters’ that are not warm or weather proof.

Ms Saxby said for the past year she had been hearing from constituents who are unhappy about the continued closure. One pensioner said they had to wait in the cold for half an hour after returning from London, and regularly used local bus services.

Another person wrote: “This is an appalling lack of consideration for the public they should be serving, especially worrying for those waiting for a long distance bus or coach trip. 

“Many people, not just the elderly, NEED access to toilet facilities. To visitors to the town/tourists arriving at our bus station, Barnstaple must seem a wretched little town if it can't be bothered to provide conveniences.”

Ms Saxby said: “Before the pandemic there were issues with anti-social behaviour, but the toilets and interiors were kept open to provide visitors with shelter.

“The council currently sees the bus station as a building to keep at minimum expense to themselves, focussing on minimising any costs rather than seeing its potential as a thriving community space.

“I think that is the wrong approach, our bus station is the largest public transport interchange in Northern Devon and there is serious potential for it to generate revenue for North Devon and us as taxpayers.

“Barnstaple Railway Station is a great example of what it could look like, with a popular café and open public facilities. I know the town council would like to take the site on, but that would require funding and there has been a lot of talk for a long time with no actual action.”

North Devon council said the bus station was originally built to provide a ticket office, café and public toilets during core business hours, plus bus company accommodation on the upper floors. Initially that was managed by bus operators.

But it said by 2015 the inside was nearing the end of its practical life, the ticket office was not manned and upstairs was only for bus company staff. The then café was the only occupant downstairs.

It said the downstairs toilet layout presented a serious safety risk, due to anti-social behaviour, reports of criminal activity and incidents of mental and physical abuse.

Council leader, Councillor Ian Roome said: “We continue to consider safe ways to open the bus station, but opening the bus station toilets with no other presence on the ground floor represents a serious health and safety risk.

“We remain in conversation with our partners to see if a solution can be found. In the meantime, investment has been made in providing new toilets at the Pannier Market and a Changing Places facility in Green Lanes.”

The council hopes to work with the town council to refurbish and redesign the layout to create a bus station facility, community hub and new managed toilet facilities, but this will take time and money.

Ms Saxby concluded: “Many of us in North Devon take the bus, whether to school, the hospital or even to visit some of our beautiful coastline.

“It is crucial our bus station reflects that and offers a warm and comfortable space to passengers whilst bringing more revenue to the area.”