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Contracts for bus services and a café concession at the new Arle Court Transport Hub could be on offer, if Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet agree to the recommendations in a report being presented at their meeting on 27 March 2024.
The Cabinet report proposes procuring and awarding a contract for a high frequency bus service between Arle Court Transport Hub and Cheltenham town centre for an initial period of seven years, with the option to extend this up to a maximum of a further three years.
In addition, the report proposes procuring and awarding a ten-year contract to fit out and operate a café concession on-site. There will also be the option to extend the contract for a further five-years.
If approved by Cabinet, tender documents will be issued in April 2024. It is anticipated that the bus service contract will be awarded in July 2024 and begin on 24 November 2024. The café contract will be awarded in June 2024 and start in August 2024.
An upgrade to the existing Arle Court Park and Ride site was included as part of the initial package proposed for the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme, which successfully gained funding from UK Government's Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), administered by Homes England, in 2020.
To accelerate delivery of the improved Arle Court Transport Hub, the council decided to progress Arle Court Transport Hub through a separate planning route to the M5 Junction 10 Improvements Scheme.
Work began on the construction of the new £33m Arle Court Transport Hub in May 2023, at the existing Arle Court Park and Ride site. Kier Construction Limited were awarded the construction contract for the scheme following a competitive procurement process. A further contractor, Knights Brown, has been appointed to complete phase two of the project which involves the West Car Park.
Once complete, Arle Court Transport Hub will provide a number of new and improved services and facilities including:
· An 860 space four-storey car park, compared with 576 spaces previously
· Passenger terminal with indoor waiting area and a covered outdoor waiting area; real-time passenger information screens; driver rest room facility; customer information desk; toilet (including a dedicated Changing Places toilet) and changing facilities
· Café space allocation (with utility supplies only)
· Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCPs) in the multistorey car park. The car park has been future proofed to enable expansion of up to 266 (7kW) EVCPs.
· Four high speed rapid charging points
· Cycle and e-scooter hub
· Drop-off and pick-up point, parking for up to ten coaches and camper van parking
Construction of the multi storey car park is due to be completed in summer 2024, with the full completion of the whole site due in November 2024.
Cllr David Gray, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, said: “The redeveloped Arle Court Transport Hub will be a big boost to sustainable transport choices for both local residents and visitors to Cheltenham, helping to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in the town. The delivery of this upgraded hub is a key element of the current Gloucestershire Local Transport Plan 2020-2041. The improved hub is a major step forward in realising that plan, offering nearly double the amount of parking on site, an increased amount of bus stands and fast electric vehicle charging, whilst increasing the convenience and comfort for customers using the well-connected services.”
The story above is a press release sent to Raikes on March 22 2024.
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