THOUSANDS of bus passengers face disruption following a decision to bring Chester's Northgate Development forward a year.

The move, agreed following a request by developer ING, means a new bus station will not be ready to replace the Princess Street depot when it is demolished in spring next year.

Bus users have criticised the move, which will see the exchange replaced by five 'super bus stops' spread across the city for a year.

There are fears passenger numbers and city trade will slump, while traffic increases and the reliability of services suffers.

Councillors agreed the 'super bus stop' solution after construction of a new House of Fraser store at the current bus station - the linchpin of the huge development - was brought forward a year.

That means the replacement depot adjoining the store will not be ready until March, 2007, at the earliest.

The five temporary exchanges are at Gorse Stacks, Delamere Street, Pepper Street, Foregate Street and City Road. They will be linked by a high frequency free shuttle bus service.

Buses serving Blacon from the existing Lower Bus Exchange area will be unaffected.

The Northgate scheme is now due for completion in spring 2009.

Stuart Hyslop, Chester City Transport manager, said: 'I am worried about the effectonpassengers andhowmanypeople will travel into Chester during the development phase.'

Passenger Michael Jones, of Saltney Ferry, said: 'They should have the new bus station ready before they take away this one. I have a disabled daughter and what about elderly people?' Anne Longton, of Willaston, said: 'It's all very well having a shuttle service but people don't want to be hanging around waiting for another bus.'

Eveleigh Moore-Dutton, a member of highway authority Cheshire County Council's cabinet, and also a city councillor for Malpas, said: 'We do not want people to think Chester's a difficult place to getto.I'm very anxious about how these shuttle buses will work. There is potential for chaos.'

Chester MP Christine Russell said bus stops spread throughout the city would benefit passengers: 'A lot of people would like more stops around and this will mean they can get on buses at all four gates.'

Cllr John Price, deputy leader of Chester City Council, said: 'I think this will work with a minimal amount of disruption.

'Liverpool is racing ahead with developments so Northgate needs to be complete earlier if possible.'

rob.devey@cheshirenews.co.uk