Viking bus station finally changes hands
THE NEW owners of the Viking bus station have vowed that they will continue to provide free waiting facilities at Lerwick’s main bus stop.
Natalie and Alan Ho who run the Great Wall restaurant and takeaway from the top floor of the bus station plan to open a new café on the ground floor of the building.
They will also continue to operate the small freight service through their takeaway outlet while a new rural freight store has been built and fitted out at COPE, at the Port Business Park at Gremista.
Speaking on Thursday, Natalie Ho said the couple planned to refurbish the ground floor of the building over the next few months.
“This is a great chance to extend our business, and provide new services to people using the bus station.
“Our long-term plans include hopefully opening a new cafe downstairs, but we can reassure customers that as soon as our refurbishment is finished, we’ll continue to provide free waiting facilities.
“In the meantime we’ll look after the small freight service from our takeaway and the existing waiting room will remain open for those using the bus station as much as possible,” she said.
Shetland Islands Council said they had done work at the Viking bus station to ensure a smooth transition, including the provision of new bus shelters, some minor maintenance to the roof, and the donation of new lockers for the public’s use in the new waiting area.
Meanwhile, COPE in partnership with the isles’ hauliers will manage the movement of larger freight for the north isles and Whalsay, which cannot be handled at the bus station.
COPE assistant manager Sarah Jackson said the venture provided new challenges for the charity’s clients.
“It will provide skill development placements for our team here at the Scrapstore, the key driver in taking on the rural freight centre,” she said.
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The transition from the council to the private sector was set in motion last year when the local authority initially sought to close the facility in a bid to save £80,000 a year.
Newly appointed chairman of the council’s environment and transport committee Michael Stout said a lot of work had gone into finding an amicable solution.
“There has been a huge amount of discussion with all those concerned to develop services which meet everyone’s needs – those of the new owners, COPE, the hauliers, operators and small freight service users, as well as passengers – and that consultation has taken place in a very constructive and positive atmosphere.
“Our staff will be working closely with the new owners during the ‘settling in’ period, and I’m confident that the outcome of this process will please everybody.”
The small bussed freight service will operate between 10.30 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the takeaway. Packages should be less than 25k in weight, and be able to fit in the luggage bay of a bus – around 120cm x 60cm x 60cm.
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