QUESTIONS are being asked about why the planned Merrywalks bus station revamp fails to address the lack of toilet facilities at the busy transport hub.

Loos, a waiting area, better signage and improved seating were just some of the suggestions made by passengers as part of the consultation on the upgrade.

Over the summer, Gloucestershire County Council conducted a two month public consultation on the project which aims to transform the hub into a user-friendly and more accessible and more inviting transport interchange.

Proposed improvements include new bus shelters, improved displays showing real time passenger information, better lighting, CCTV and a better waiting environment.

Adding toilets, improving signage and seating arrangements were three of the most common suggestions - with the loo issue also being raised by a town councillor in a written question to GCC.

Currently the nearest public toilets are in the Five Valleys Shopping Centre.

One passenger wrote: “A central arrivals and departures board would be useful, as would better seating, a covered area, toilets, real time information and better access.”

Another said: “More and improved covered seating, electronic timetable for each bus service, more litter bins, public toilets and information board about the town.”

“Please add toilets as there is often little time between bus changes and it’s far to walk to the Five Valleys Shopping Centre,” was another comment.

Other suggestions included a shuttle bus between Merrywalks and the railway station.

The toilet issue was also raised by Stroud town councillor Adrian Oldman, who recently asked GCC when it expect the improvements to be in place and why there was no provision for toilet facilities.

This was asked during September’s list of public questions sent into the county council.

In response Phillip Robinson, GCC cabinet member for education and bus transport, said: “The timescale of improvements depends on the outcome of the consultation.

“If major changes are required to the design this will delay implementation.

“An evaluation of the consultation is taking place now as a priority, once this is complete and the design finalised, we will give an estimate for the delivery and installation of the project.

“As per the previous correspondence you have received on this matter, the project will be delivered via several third-party suppliers, therefore delivery is reliant on their supply chains “The provision of public bathrooms is usually a matter for district or town councils.

“The county council focus is on the transport infrastructure.”

A Gloucestershire County Council spokesperson said: “We would like to thank everyone who took part in the engagement into Stroud Merrywalks Transport Hub.

“The ideas people have contributed and feedback received will be invaluable in helping us to shape future improvements.

“We will now evaluate the responses and will update residents with final designs and proposed timescales as soon as we can.

“The provision of public bathrooms is a matter for district or town councils, our focus for this project was on the transport infrastructure improvements.”

The consultation ended on September 9.