Revamp plan 'new dawn' for town

The new bus station will be powered by solar energy

Ambitious £16m plans to revamp a County Durham town have been unveiled.

The core of Derwentside District Council's plans for Stanley will be a public transport hub, including a new bus station, in the centre of the town.

The solar-powered hub will link Front Street's pedestrian zone and the retail and supermarket areas.

Work is due to start within the next few weeks with the bus station due to be completed later this year and the rest in early 2006.

The current bus station was built in the 1970s and some residents of the town said they were too frightened to use it alone at night, saying it had become a magnet for vandals,

Council leader Alex Watson said: "It's extremely important. A new dawn is breaking. These are very exciting times for Stanley, truly a day of celebration today.

Cut emissions

"It's another critical step in our quest to regenerate Stanley town centre."

The £4m bus station project is being funded by One NorthEast, Derwentside District Council, Durham County Council and DTI's Energy Saving Trust.

The bus station building will include photovoltaic energy generation technology, which converts daylight into electricity, and will provide its power.

It will form part of the council's drive to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

There will also be real-time information about arrivals and departures for travellers.