COUNCILLORS have grilled a Stagecoach representative over the dilapidated state of Winchester bus station.

Speaking at Winchester Town Forum, city council leader Martin Tod pointed to the "flaking" bus hub, saying: "I just wondered what your plans are with that."

James O'Neill, commercial manager for Stagecoach South, replied: "We’re reviewing what needs to be done and what the cost would be. It’s a site which is earmarked for demolition."

READ MORE: Winchester Bus Station: 'what a horrible space'

Winchester bus station is considered by many residents to be particularly unsightly (Image: Newsquest)

Mr O'Neill explained that Stagecoach, which is responsible for the maintenance of the bus station, is weighing up the pros and cons of renovating the site in light of the company's prediction it will likely have to be razed in around five years' time as part of the Central Winchester Regeneration.

He said: "Our contract is to keep it in a reasonable condition. It’s not a site that has a long-term future."

The bus station has come under heavy criticism from members of the public, with one Chronicle letter writer calling it a "horrible space", adding that "it is like something out of 1950s communist Russia".

Speaking of Stagecoach's approach to its services, Mr O'Neill said: "We’re a commercial organisation ultimately – I can’t do something at a loss."