- City centre chaos would end with Labour

SWANSEA would gain a much-needed new bus station if Labour wins the council election in May.

Labour unveiled the promise today as part of a package of measures, including the end of the city centre chaos inflicted on local people and city centre businesses by the Liberal Democrats. Two years of continuous disruption in the city centre both on the routes into and out of the city centre, particularly around the shopping core (Kingsway, Princess Way and Oxford St) have led to it becoming an effective retail ‘no-go area’. Several businesses have closed citing disastrous falling sales and others are pursuing Swansea council for compensation for lost business. Swansea Labour Leader Coun David Phillips said any Labour administration would not undertake any further expensive city centre road reorganisation and will instead channel the money into building a new bus station.

Councillor Phillips was supported by Labour Swansea West prospective candidate Geraint Davies, a transport expert. As leader of Croydon council, Geraint Davies delivered the Tramlink to south London, and, later as an MP for the same area, acted as the chair of Labour’s Environment, Transport and the Regions committee.

 The city centre pledge is the first of a series of high-profile policy plans to be revealed, with the aim of showing local people that Labour can offer a genuine alternative to the current administration and that it plans to run basic council services well.

The party will consult with local business and local people to determine whether they would prefer a radical refurbishment of the Quadrant bus station with better park and ride schemes, or a new build near the railway station to ensure greater transport integration.

DAVID PHILLIPS said:

“Over the past couple of years the Liberal Democrat administration in Swansea has caused endless chaos by meddling with our city centre in a truly shambolic way. This has led to huge inconvenience and major difficulties not only for local people but for the businesses that are trying to trade there. People approach me on a daily basis to tell me how unhappy they are with the way things have been handled by this administration.

“I want people in Swansea to know that if Labour wins the council election in May, this will change. Rather than channelling money into further expensive roads reorganisation in the city centre, we will invest in something that people really want – a new bus station.

“People in Swansea really value their bus network and it is our intention to deliver for local people. In addition to a new bus station, we want to improve park and ride facilities, and we will expand services to include routes to Singleton and Morriston hospitals. We will also deliver a park and ride scheme for the west of the city.”

GERAINT DAVIES said:

“Our plans for Swansea are driven by the needs and beliefs of Swansea people. Swansea Labour has spent the last three years talking to community groups, business and ordinary hardworking people about their aspirations for our city. The result of these talks is a manifesto that will deliver on the issues that matter to local people.”