TravelWatch has criticised ’inadequate’ proposals for bus passengers included as part of a planned £25m redevelopment.

A planning application (18/00846/B) has been submitted for a £25m hotel, cinema and restaurant complex on North Quay, Douglas.

The Quayside North development, one of the largest privately-funded projects the island has seen, will transform the former Lord Street bus station site, creating new leisure facilities and jobs.

TravelWatch says the plans include five bus bays at or near their current location with a kerbside bus shelter at each bay.

But it says there is no mention of any waiting room or refreshment room for passengers, while the two public toilet cubicles located near the Parade Street roundabout appear inadequate.

A spokesman for the watchdog said: ’Bus passengers have been waiting for several decades for a replacement of the old Lord Street bus station.

’On a development on land that is, or was until recently, government-owned, it is not unreasonable to expect a bus station fit for the 21st century in the island’s capital. Bus passengers are not second class citizens.

’The public authorities have negotiated the provision of staff facilities, but have failed to secure an adequate safe waiting room and other essentials for the travelling public.

He said the nearest proposed refreshment facility is the cafe-bar in the hotel facing Parade Street, but Travelodge is unlikely to want to act as a waiting room.

TravelWatch also criticised the ’ridiculously’ short period of time - to September 7 - allowed for public feedback.

And it questioned the vehicle access to the new multi-storey car park, which appears to be via Market Hill and left into narrow Chapel Row.

Vehicles would exit via North Quay to the Parade Street roundabout.

The proposed introduction of traffic into Market Hill appears to be in direct conflict with the DoI’s recent intention to pedestrianise Market Hill, it said.

Proposals for the Quayside North development include a seven-screen Omniplex cinema, an 80-bed Travelodge hotel, three restaurants, 20 flats, four retail units (or two larger ones) and a six-storey car park.

Developer Kane Ltd has announced that long-term leases have been signed with ’anchor’ tenants Travelodge and Omniplex.

If planning permission is secured, work would begin on site by the second quarter of next year.

Construction is expected to support 130 new jobs and once open, the development could create 110 jobs.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer has described the submission of the planning application as an ’important milestone’.