A COUNCIL has come under fire for not listening to people over plans for a new bus station.

Durham County Council has come up with new plans for an £8m bus station for North Road, Durham, which went on display at a public consultation today.

They follow a consultation in 2014, when the public had their say on a similar scheme.

Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods says the new plans do not reflect people’s comments and is planning a public meeting.

She said: “They haven’t really listened to any of the things people said last time. They’ve tinkered at the edges to make what they were doing previously more acceptable, but they haven’t taken on board what to do to change it and fit it into the historic centre.”

She added: “I’m in favour of a new bus station but I just think the design is no better than the last one and they need to think of a more central location.”

East Atherton Street resident Simon Squires, said: “We keep thinking this has died but it comes back to life and we have to kill it off again.

“I think it’s a misbegotten idea. My concern is that the council asks whether you are in favour of the regeneration of North Road and of course everyone is and that is taken to mean we are in favour of the new bus station.”

Sarah Robson, from the council, said the 2014 consultation had resulted in “major changes” to the original design, including altering the road design to improve pedestrian routes, moving the facade of the building back so as not to impact on the view of the viaduct, including more trees and using more natural materials.

She said: “The last consultation in 2014 showed overwhelming support for the regeneration of North Road as well as a range of detailed suggestions to improve the designs of the new bus station to make it more sympathetic to its surroundings.

“We took all of these comments very seriously and worked closely with Historic England on the new designs.”

The exhibition continues tomorrow at North Road Methodist Church from 11am to 6pm and people can give their views at www.durham.gov.uk until November 4.