Demolition update as the town centre transformation continues

Date published: 15 April 2014

The scaffolding being erected around the black box has now reached around half way up the structure - it is expected it will take a further four weeks to cover the entire structure.

Since our last update much more of the old bus station has been levelled and the remainder is on course to be gone by the end of April.

The bus station lift shaft was due to be demolished just hours after these photos were taken.

The only bridge link now remaining is the section at the back of Marks and Spencer and this is scheduled to be removed in three weeks time.

Once the demolition is complete, a 200 capacity car park will be constructed on the site of the old bus station, with landscaped walkways being laid where the black box once stood. Longer term, a shopping and leisure facility will be constructed on the cleared site.

Work will also start on a new entrance for the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre and the drawings will be revealed soon - watch this space...

Shoppers can continue to access the Wheatsheaf from Baillie Street or Yorkshire Street until the new entrance opens at the end of November.

Currently overshadowed by the Black Box and the old bus station is Telegraph House, a sizeable building that will take the limelight for a short time before it too is demolished.

Visitors can use the town centre shuttle bus to get around the shops more easily during the demolition. The bus leaves stand C in the new transport interchange every 20 minutes between 8.05am and 5.05pm.