Taxi rank to open as interchange work continues

By Connor Steel

GOSPORT RESIDENTS will soon be able to benefit from a “relocated” taxi rank and passenger drop-off later this week following an update from Hampshire County Council on Tuesday (January 23), which confirmed that Phrase One of the town’s new bus interchange facility is finished and these works will be progressing into the second stage in due course.

This taxi rank can be found close to the existing bus station based on South Street and is due to be open for the public on January 25 (Thursday) alongside the new area for passenger drop offs, which will feature the provision of short stay parking spaces on The Esplanade. A shelter is likely to be installed on the taxi rank by ‘late February’ if all goes to plan.

Final landscaping works will furthermore be undertaken in this area later this year by Hampshire County Council, when the weather is likely to be better and the appropriate planting season is underway. Temporary fencing will be erected in places around this taxi rank site and passenger drop off facilities until all work is completed; thus protecting the ground.

Residents are advised that the existing taxi rank and parking spaces next to Falkland Gardens will be closed this week to coincide with the start of Phrase Two, which will see the ‘construction’ of a new bus interchange carried out over the coming months. Temporary signage and traffic lights may be placed within this area to ensure “safety” for staff workers.

The foot-path between the Castle Tavern Pub on Mumby Road and the Falkland Gardens still remains ‘closed off’, with residents asked to use the pedestrian crossing to access both the Falkland Gardens and the ferry terminal. Contractors have anticipated there will be increased noise levels in this area due to key activities, although this will be kept minimal.

Works are still continuing on Gosport High Street around the junctions with both North and South Cross Street which is set to carry on until the summer period. This is part of the package of public transport improvements aiming to create a new modernised bus interchange and providing the easy connection with Eclipse services; funded by ‘local authorities’.

Readers can explore detailed overviews of the project and download all important documents by visiting the Hampshire County Council link, which is regularly updated by staff in conjunction with ‘construction teams’ carrying out this project.

PICTURED BY GOOGLE MAPS: Existing taxi rank and passenger drop off area which will shut to the public this week.