Bradford Interchange: More concerns and questions raised

Bradford's main bus station has been shut since the start of last month after falling concrete sparked big safety concerns.

Towards the end of last month, West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) - which runs Bradford Interchange - announced the bus station would be closed for at least two months while surveys were carried out to establish the extent of the damage.

Outside Bradford Interchange (Image: Newsquest)

The Telegraph and Argus this week asked WYCA if that was still the case - or if the authority expected the station to be shut for longer.

We also asked WYCA if it wanted to respond to concerns raised by a number of Telegraph & Argus readers that they do not think the station would reopen at all.

WYCA transport boss Simon Warburton said "we cannot speculate further until we have the full results of the surveys that are underway on-site".

He added that WYCA would "continue to assess with our partners at Bradford Council what work will be needed before safely reopening the bus station".

Councillor raises more concerns

Meanwhile, the leader of the Green Party on Bradford Council has raised further concerns about the closure of the bus station. 

Councillor Matt Edwards has been vocal about the situation and what he described as "inadequate communication" from WYCA and Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire.

He said transport bosses had still not met with Bradford councillors to discuss the closure and the impact on public transport users in the city.

WYCA told the Telegraph & Argus it was working with Bradford Council to provide a "full briefing" to all councillors.

Scenes from Bradford Interchange as the bus station remained closed (Image: T&A)

Cllr Edwards added: "The situation is still not good enough. Residents are continuing to raise issues with me.

"The impact this is having on rail users is also not being talked about. At present, the main concourse of Bradford Interchange is completely closed but this area was used by both bus and rail passengers.

"Bradford Interchange rail station currently has no lift access, no public toilets or catering facilities. The only place to buy food at the station is a vending machine which was practically empty last time I was there.

"The side access ramp is not really usable for many disabled people because of the steep incline and the poor lighting.

Questions continue to be asked surrounding the bus station closure (Image: T&A)

"Given what we are starting to find out about the issues at Bradford Interchange and how long the bus station could be closed for, I have asked bosses at WYCA if they can prioritise making sure it is safe to get the shared concourse open so rail passengers can have access to some basic facilities."

Simon Warburton, executive director of transport at WYCA, said in response: "Contractors are still continuing their assessment of the damage at Bradford Interchange bus station after some concrete fell into the basement of the bus station on December 22.

"Public safety remains our top priority and we will not open the bus station until it is safe to do so - we are working on a series of ongoing measures to ensure the comfort and safety of passengers.

"We cannot speculate further until we have the full results of the surveys that are underway onsite. 

"We will provide more information when we can, and will continue to assess with our partners at Bradford Council what work will be needed before safely reopening the bus station."

WYCA said on January 4 that the bus station would close "following some damage believed to be linked to the recent extreme weather".

Bus services are continuing to run from nearby streets. Train services have not been affected and that part of Bradford Interchange remains open.

Meanwhile, WYCA has now installed an MCard ticket machine at Bradford Interchange rail station while the bus station is shut.

It comes after a woman contacted the Telegraph & Argus last month to complain bus passengers had nowhere they could use a machine at Bradford Interchange to add money to their MCards.

She said people had been told they must go to Huddersfield, Halifax or Leeds to top up their bus ticket cards, which she described as "ridiculous".