By Conor Sharkey
TRANSLINK said this week they would be happy to meet with Sinn Fein, after the party described the local bus depot as "totally inadequate".
Recently, Sinn Fein Councillor Michaela Boyle urged the transport company to carry out an urgent review of the depot's limited opening hours and the lack of basic services available to passengers.
Councillor Boyle said that hundreds of people were being inconvenienced and that patience is starting to run thin locally.
"In 2006 and after many years of lobbying, Strabane eventually secured a purpose built bus depot, passenger waiting facilities and associated car parking and park and ride facilities.
"From the outset however, Translink have limited the opening hours of the new indoor facility meaning that passengers have been unable to access the seated waiting area, toilets or public telephone for a substantial part of the week.
"Hundreds of passengers are being inconvenienced as a result of these limited opening hours by being unable to access basic services that are available at other bus depots that cater for a similar or even less of a passenger throughput.
"When Sinn Fein raised this issue at the time Translink stated that it could not, as yet, justify longer opening hours but promised that it would keep the situation under review and would consider longer opening hours if possible. However, there has been no improvement in the situation since that time and I am now calling on Translink to urgently review the current arrangements. Passengers are becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress on this issue and there is also major concern about the inadequacy of lighting at the facility," she said.
Mrs Boyle also revealed that the issue would be brought before Stormont, following an approach to DRD Minister Conor Murphy by MP Pat Doherty.
Despite the concerns however, Translink remain adamant that an increase in opening hours would not be financially viable.
"A survey was carried out at Strabane last year to review the opening hours in particular at weekends and it was found that demand was lower than at weekends. Therefore, the costs associated with opening the full facilities cannot be justified.
Passengers still do have light, seating and shelter from the elements although not inside the building," a Translink spokesperson said.
On the Sinn Fein accusation that facilities in Strabane are far from acceptable, the spokesperson added: " We will of course continue to monitor the usage of our services outside the current opening times and review if appropriate. We will be happy to meet with local representatives who wish to discuss any matters surrounding the buscentre."
