It has been held up as the Holy Grail of public transport in Stroud, but do the people who are expected to use it really want it? Reporter Sam Bond took to the streets to find out what people thought about the long-awaited transport interchange...

THE turmoil surrounding Stroud's bus station may have stolen its thunder but the planned transport interchange alongside the railway station has been quietly held up as the answer to the town's travelling woes.

Despite being seen by some as the ultimate solution to the public transport hot potato, the interchange has maintained a surprisingly low profile.

"I hadn't hear of it," said Grace Brown of Paganhill, echoing many waiting for trains at the station.

"But it's a brilliant idea, I always said that was the best place for the buses.

"It's here and it's convenient, you haven't got to go right down to the old bus station, I'm all for it."

Jeff Turner from Gloucester was also in favour.

"It would be easier for people coming into Stroud by train to just get straight on the bus, so, yes, I would use it," he said.

"Last week I had to use the bus because there was work on the line and although the bus station isn't that far away it would have been better if I could have just got on one here."

Dominic Fletcher, again from Gloucester, was also quick to sing the praises of the plan.

"It's convenience, it's got to be a good thing, if there's more choice and more availability, then why not?" he said.

"It's going to cost the Government a lot of money though."

Ann Parsons was also impressed saying: "Most places already seem to have them somewhere together and it would be convenient for the shops."

Martin Dyer from Stonehouse said he would be happy to see the interchange replace the bus station altogether.

"It's not the nicest place down there anymore, is it?"

The only dissenter at the station was Stroud's John Potter, who foresaw problems with the idea.

"You wouldn't be able to get the double deckers under the railway bridge over Rowcroft," he said.

But elsewhere in the town there was little enthusiasm for the idea.

Taxi driver John Sullivan said he had no objection to the scheme so long as it did not mean losing the taxi rank in King's Parade.

"It's not a lot of good for anybody coming out of Somerfield," he said. "They don't want to carry their shopping too far.

"I think the bus station should stay where it is, at least people know where they are then. "People are so confused in this town at the moment, they don't know what's going on."

Down at the bus station most people were preoccupied with its imminent closure and did not see the interchange as a useful solution.

"It should all stay down here," said Donald Tucker.

"The buses will never get in and out of that place up there, with the traffic in the town. "They should have kept the buses down here and built the cinema above them."