Bus shelter work to take place in market revamp

Bus shelters are being added to semi-permanent stops in a Derbyshire town from next week as part of work to re-develop its market place.

Bolsover District Council said this was part of preparation towards creating a "bus mobility hub" in Shirebrook as part of the Market Place: REimagined project, and in the coming days the shelters will be added in nearby Ashbourne Street.

The temporary relocation or closure of any stops will be fully advertised and work was expected to be completed by January, when bus stops will be re-opened and services redirected back to Market Street, said the authority.

District councillor John Ritchie said investment in town centres and high streets "remained a priority".

The county council has invested some of its bus service improvement plan funding in this part of the project.

Mr Ritchie, cabinet member for growth, said: "We need to see investment that will bring footfall to our high streets so that our local shops and businesses can increase their trade and in turn reinvest that income into the local community.

“In particular, we thank Derbyshire County Council for directing some of their funding to Shirebrook Market Place to improve the central and well used bus stops on market place.

"We want to encourage sustainable modes of transport and these commercial bus routes to our neighbouring towns are a valuable link for people getting to work and accessing education, health, shopping and leisure opportunities.”

The council said the bus mobility hub will include improvement to bus shelters and the installation of real time information.

The first phase of the project took place in the summer and has seen new paving and surfacing installed around the Mining Memorial, which was unveiled in May 2023.

The memorial is open over the weekend for people wanting to pay their respects, and on Remembrance Day.

The council added it was pleased to confirm Shirebrook Market Place will be one of the locations to receive additional funding as part of the recently announced £15m Regeneration Funding from the government.

This will deliver a new events hub and finish the public realm works, which will take place in the New Year.

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