A woman disgusted by the state of Brighton’s coach station has started a petition calling on the council to improve the facilities.
Celia Steer catches National Express coaches regularly from Pool Valley which prompted her to set up her petition on the Change.org website.
The lack of a waiting room, lighting, toilets and a café have left the area uninviting and Miss Steer said that she believed that it was unsafe at night.
She said: “It’s a disgrace. I’ve got relatives coming in from America in the next couple of months and I think they’ll be appalled to know what they’re coming into.
“We use it a lot and have to go out early in the morning. There’s no shelter.
“Coming back late at night, the National Express coaches park at the Old Steine because it’s too dangerous to park in the coach station. There’s nothing there.”
Now, if she has to come home late from a trip, Miss Steer said that she used the train instead.
At the time of writing, 154 people had signed the petition which Miss Steer plans to submit to Brighton and Hove City Council.
Pool Valley is classed as public highway and is the council’s responsibility.
The council’s cabinet member for transport, parking and the public realm, Trevor Muten, said that the council was looking at ways to improve the area.
Councillor Muten said: “We see Pool Valley as an important part of the city, with lots of potential.
“It’s close to the pier and seafront and will certainly benefit from the ongoing transformation of the Old Steine as part of the Valley Gardens project.
“We’re looking at how this area best serves the city and will be working closely with transport operators and the local community to ensure good outcomes for residents, businesses and visitors.”
https://www.change.org/p/pool-valley-coach-station
A couple of shelters would be nice but I don’t think there are enough passengers to make a coffee shop or even just a mobile stand commercially viable. Plus there are some coffee places on East Street such as Pret
The only time I’ve seen more than a half dozen or so. passengers is when there has been a rail strike or engineering works.
But I’m sure her American friends won’t be as appalled as she thinks. In many US cities coaches often pick up passengers on the road like a normal bus.
And IIRC it’s only a couple of the very late night arrival and departures that didn’t use the station and that may have been more down to not wanting to create noise for people stating at the youth hostel etc
But is the current location ideal anyway?
It’s only accessible to coaches via a narrow street off the Old Stein and an exit on to A259
Well
Obviously you don’t see that many people coming and going it dosnt mayer how many people use it still.needs a cafe like it did before my petition is is now over 175 so they dont agree with your comments the drivers themselves have told me thst they wint go in there late st night for safety reasons to them.and passenger’s
As usual the council will save money by doing nothing.
Could do with Shelter & Toilets
But everything gets Vandallised or Graffitied when Unattended-can’t see Council wanting to pay for those Services right now.
The Steine & Pool Valley used to be a great place to come into and would be seen as the Place to look at as you come in from Palace Pier or Sea life Centre or a walk along the Beach.
But look at it now ( I know it VG3 phrase) but just chaos.