PLANS plans to develop the former Waterside Train Station in Derry have been given the provisional council green light.
The £27 million North West Transport Hub has been recommended for approval by Derry City and Strabane District Council with a final decision on the proposal due to be made at this Wednesday’s meeting of the Planning Committee.
The plan for the transport hub include the demolition of the existing station to make way for a new train terminus, bus stands, a park and ride facility, passenger waiting area, retail units and community space.
Translink has already secured significant funding for the ambitious project and will support continued growth including up to 1100 new local and cross border bus and connecting rail services.
The plans have won the backing of Derry Chamber of Commerce.
But local campaign group Into The West are opposed the proposals.
Over 1,400 people signed an online petition calling on the planning bodies to reject the multi-million pound redevelopment of the train station.
Campaigner Eamonn McCann of Into The West said the transport hub plans were “a laughing stock”.
He said under the proposals the station would effectively be unused.
Trains, he said, would park outside the old station and the building separated from the Foyle riverfront by two railway lines and a car park.
“That is little short of vandalism of what could be a magnificent entrance into the city of Derry and into a rail terminus that is fit for a regional capital,” he added.
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