A new cruise ship berth at Dockyard has sparked plans for a new temporary bus depot.

The West End Development Corporation (WEDCO)has submitted an application for a parking area for 36 Public Transportation Board buses inPender Road. The site, which is currently vacant, is situated on the north side of the road, immediately adjacent to Westgate Correctional Facility. It will also feature a security fence and lighting, a prefabricated building to be used as a rest area for drivers and washrooms.

In the application, received by the Planning Department on November 19, Robert Northcott, of architectural firm Conyers and Associates, wrote:"The buses will be located at this site to reduce transportation times both to and from the west end of the Island at the start and end of their shifts."In addition, as the new cruise ship berths are developed in Dockyard, there will be an increasing need to be able to provide sufficient public transportation capacity within acceptable distances from these locations.

"The application does not explain why the bus terminal is of a temporary nature and WEDCO chairman Walter Lister was not in a position to provide further information yesterday. The Royal Gazette reported on Monday that Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess has signed an agreement with WEDCOallowing land to be reclaimed from the sea at Dockyard to build a new pier.

That development involves 8.2 acres of land adjoining North Breakwater in Dockyard which will be used for a pier, ground transportation area, terminal building and new 36-foot wide bridge to replace the existing 25-foot North Arm Bridge.

Phase one of the project, already underway, involves piling, pier infrastructure, a temporary access road and methods to limit noise.Once completed it will allow two cruise ships to berth simultaneously at Dockyard.