'Long overdue' demolition begins on bus station

The "long overdue" demolition of an old bus station is taking place.

Diggers have moved on to the site of the former Swindon bus station at New Bridge Close.

Jim Robbins, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: "people knew it was a building way past the end of its life."

Plans to turn the land into an entertainment venue, drawn up by the same company which built the ABBA Arena, suggested the cost of the new venue could be about £35m.

The council leader said funding for the proposal has not been fully secured.

He said: "We've got some of it in place and we've got some funding bids out at the moment.

"We're talking to various people and there is lots of work behind the scenes to see what the possibilities are."

He also said that discussions are underway on how the old bus station, which closed in August last year, could be used as a temporary events space over summer.

The demolition work is due to be completed by mid-February.

The council said asbestos will be safely removed with any brick, kerbs and other concrete materials cleared for processing to be crushed and reused on site where possible.

Materials like steel will be recycled.

The demolition of the site comes after the opening of Swindon's new £33m bus interchange on Fleming Way in September.

It includes new bus shelters and digital screens.

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