Interesting article in the Times at the weekend about the architectural value of Preston bus station. According to English Heritage it is ‘one of the most innovative pieces of transport architecture in Britain’. Part of Prestons identity according to the group trying to save it.
My own opinion is that demolition of any one-off building might be found to be a mistake in years to come. Preston seems to have excelled in demolishing things that might now be items to cherish like the Public Hall and Town Hall remains. There are some interesting buildings tucked away so no-one can see them. To name two; All Saints Church with a classical front in Elizabeth Street off Lancaster Road and the Playhouse Theatre. The bottom end of Friargate has some interesting features if you look above the shops or at the alleyway arches.
Then again the bus station is a bit big to preserve. Yet some say that size is one of it’s main features. So preserving a bit of it might seem to defeat the object even if the problem of access could be overcome by doing that.
The Times article says it is said the car park entrances are too small for modern cars. But you can argue that cars are about to get smaller, petrol at 150p anyone, green taxes as the temperature begins to obviously get higher. Also it is said it was built for a bigger Preston and cuts off a large area. Although this might be the age of the bus.
I’ve always felt a bit of pride that Preston had such an unusual and large building, vastly superior to the terrible bus stations in nearby towns. Although I’ve always thought it has a lot of major faults. Also I’d like the investment. So I sympathise with both sides and on balance would like it to stay with improvements. For example it doesn’t have to be a bus station for its whole length and half of it could be merged into a pedestrian area with shops at The Guild Hall side. That end wouldn’t even need to be completely blocked in, just preserve the shape.
Read more here;
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article6538907.ece