THE biggest change in public transport in Winchester in more than 40 years takes place next week.

The bus station is set to reopen with most services set to take a different route, with the exact date still to be announced.

No longer will the buses turn from the station entrance on The Broadway onto the High Street and then right into Middle Brook Street.

Instead they will leave the station via Friarsgate, turn into Tanner Street and Silver Hill before rejoining the usual route on St George’s Street.

It is the most substantial change to traffic since the High Street was first pedestrianised in 1974.

A new bus stop has been put into St George’s Street, outside M&S, to replace the existing bus stop in Middle Brook Street which will be removed once the new route is in operation.

Middle Brook Street will become a cycle-only zone at all times and the High Street will become a cycle-only zone between 10am and 4pm.

Winchester City Council has updated the site of the old bus station, demolishing the disused depot building to allow buses a more straightforward route through the site.

Councillor Caroline Horrill, leader of Winchester City Council said: “About three million people use the buses each year and this has been about improving the facilities available to them, increasing the availability of real time travel information and increase pedestrian safety in the area around this bus station.”

Councillor Jan Warwick, portfolio holder for environment, added: “Not only is offering alternatives to the private car important for the environment, another big plus of this move is that we can make the area look more appealing.”