The business chairman of the council, Coun. Scott Dickinson, said: “We’ve got exciting plans for Hexham which will go a long way to providing a stimulus to local businesses and the local community.

Council presses on with Hexham bus station revamp By BRIAN TILLEY Last updated at 08:46, Wednesday, 07 August 2013 A NEW modern bus station, with four bus stands, covered passenger accommodation and public toilets is on the cards for Hexham. Jane Wrigley Despite scepticism that Northumberland County Council would leave Tynedale out in the cold to concentrate on its south-east heartland, the county is pressing ahead with its bold bid to bring the neglected transport hub into the 21th century. And that’s only part of ambitious plans to breathe life back into Hexham, which has suffered badly since the loss of one of the town’s premier employers, Tynedale Council, following the creation of the unitary county council in 2009. The county is actively exploring the possibility of bringing former Tynedale Council premises in the town back into use as offices. The business chairman of the council, Coun. Scott Dickinson, said: “We’ve got exciting plans for Hexham which will go a long way to providing a stimulus to local businesses and the local community. “By bringing the bus station back into use and by providing council services from the heart of Hexham again, we think the local economy will benefit. “We’ll be bringing forward detailed plans to begin a consultation with Hexham Town Council to ensure that local priorities and views can be captured at an early stage. “We’re hoping to start discussions with interested parties in the bus station development very soon and we’re actively assessing the property we own in the town centre as potential locations for dedicated council and partner services.” Masterminding the revitalisation of Hexham is former Newcastle City Council chief executive Barry Rowland, who has just been appointed by the county council as corporate director of local services. While his first priority will be to develop plans to create a new, fully functioning bus station in Hexham, he is also looking at increasing the county council’s presence in the town by utilising existing space the council already owns. The council is understood to be drawing up plans for a combined bus station/one stop shop and but is also actively looking at refurbishing buildings which once housed the former Tynedale Council staff. The county had already sold the Old Grammar School and the former swimming pool in Gilesgate, but still owns other properties, including Prospect House, in Hallgate, and Hexham House and Hadrian House, in Market Street. The bus station development plans will seek not only to refurbish the bus station itself, but also to maximise the opportunities to further develop bus services which currently use Hexham as a destination. The council has also indicated that it will be looking at how rural bus services can be improved and supplemented as part of a wider review of transport issues across the county. The council is planning a ‘rural bus summit’ in October to bring together interested parties. The council is hoping to come forward with detailed plans on which to consult with Hexham Town Council within the next three months, and will be seeking to consult the wider public after the plans have been discussed at the town council. Chairman of Hexham Constituency Labour Party, Jane Wrigley, has welcomed the positive progress on revitalising Hexham. She said: “I am really delighted that the Labour administration is looking at ways of improving the bus station and making it a welcoming gateway into Hexham. “For far too long, various councils have talked about taking action, but nothing has happened. “In addition, I welcome the move to devolve council services back to Hexham by creating a local council hub. “This will bring high quality jobs and vitality back into the town, as well as increasing footfall in the local shops and businesses. “It’ll be good for the planet too, as local people won’t have to travel to work in south-east Northumberland.”