Work On Luton Travel Centre To Start Next Month

29 July 2014, 07:38 | Updated: 29 July 2014, 07:51

It's been confirmed construction work will start on a £500,000 travel centre in Luton next month.

The new facility opposite Luton Station should then open in early 2015. It's being built on Council land next to the new rail-bus interchange, using a grant from the Government's Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

It will have a travel information and bus and coach ticket desk, a small public café and toilets, plus a personal travel planning area. There will also be a rest room for bus drivers and a secure cycle parking area with lockers.

Cllr Sian Timoney, the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration at the council, said: "This is great news for bus and train passengers, cyclists and pedestrians in Luton.

"Encouraging more people in the borough to use public and sustainable transport not only helps reduce traffic congestion but also delivers important health and wellbeing and economic benefits, so I am absolutely delighted that the Council can now provide the improved, modern and safe travel information facilities everyone deserves at what is already a very successful multi-modal transport hub.

"The new Luton Travel Centre also perfectly complements additional works undertaken by the Council under the Town Centre Transport Scheme to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists between the station area and the town centre, including completing the inner ring road, closing Guildford Street to through-traffic and pedestrianising Bute Street with high quality granite paving."

The new travel centre's information and ticket desk and personal travel planning area will be staffed by the Council, however the café will be open to buyers, on a letting basis.

Cllr Timoney said: "Good levels of interest have already been expressed in renting and running the café. We are also exploring options looking into the feasibility of running a cycle rental scheme from the travel centre."