April 1979 work begins.
Opening on March 2nd 1982.
I have been in in and out of here for some forty odd years, writing of its history and recording its decline.
No more cold damp shelters, no more cavernous and grimy public conveniences, no more chips and shop.
Bye bus station.
We have already said goodbye to all the previous incarnations.
And eagerly awaited the rebirth.
This time as an interchange, where bus, tram and train converge – the most modern of modern ideas.
The brand-new Ashton-under-Lyne Interchange is now open, providing passengers with much-improved facilities and a modern, accessible gateway to the town.Â
The Interchange supports the economic growth of the town and helps people to get to and from their places of work as well as Ashton’s great shops, markets, restaurants and bars in a modern, safe and welcoming environment.
The Interchange has been developed by Transport for Greater Manchester in partnership with Tameside Council and funded with support from central government’s Local Growth Deal programme.
The building contractor was VINCI Construction UK.Â
Architects were Austin Smith Lord
I managed to get there, just before I wasn’t supposed to get there.
So goodbye to all this:
No more exposed pedestrian crossings, draughty shelters orange Ms, and analogue information boards.
It’s an integrated, enclosed, digitally connected, well-lit, secure unit.
I found it to be light, bright and well-used; a fine mix of glass, steel, brick, concrete and timber.
Spacious, commodious and clearly signed.
Linked to the shopping precinct.
It’s almost finished – I hope that everyone is happy?
They even found Lottery Heritage monies to fund public art.
The work of Michael Condron and a host of local collaborators.
From the early part of the Twentieth Century trams and then buses stopped and started in Mersey Square, affording limited succour, space or shelter for the weary traveller.
View from the Fire Station Tower.
View from the Plaza Steps.
The land where the bus station currently stands was then owned and used by North Western Buses – a rather large and uncultivated plot.
Work began in April 1979 on a brand new bus station, the first stage finally opening on March 2nd 1982.
Slowly emerging from the rough ground – a series of glass and steel boxes worthy of that master of minimalism Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a Neue Nationalgalerie in miniature.
Photographs from Stockport Image Archive
It has stood and withstood the winds of change and perfidious public transport policy, the privatisation of the service, snatched greedily from local authority control.
Passengers have met and parted, whilst buses of every hue and stripe have departed from these draughty boxes.
Photograph from Victory Guy
There are now plans for imminent demolition and rebuilding – shaping a transport hub fit for the Twenty First Century – Space Age forms for a brave new world.
A new £42m transport interchange in Stockport town centre has taken a step forward after the local council agreed key measures to back the project.
April 9th 2017Â here is my photographic record of the Bus Station, I’ve been, gone and come back again countless times through the years.
I have been here before, adoring the full range of Hasting’s sea front shelters.
They form an integral part of the general scheme designed and overseen by The Concrete King Sidney Little.
On my most recent visit the most distant shelter was receiving a wash and brush up, a brand new coat of paint or two, restored to bright red and white shipshape order, this land locked delight looked ready to set sail across the adjacent Channel to who knows where.
Offering a somewhat occluded view of blue skies and faraway shores, the bus stops here and goes on forever and forever.
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