THE Friars Walk bus station in Newport will open to passengers on Friday, almost a month later than planned and still without any explanation for the delays.

Shoppers have been waiting for the bus station to open since thousands descended on Friars Walk when it opened on November 12.

The Newport City Bus Station was originally due to open on November 15 before the date was pushed back.

Newport City Council yesterday revealed that the he new station will open this Friday but did not answer a series of questions the Argus put to the council about the reasons for the delay.

Developers Queensberry said in November they were working with their main contractor to get the bus station finished and opened at the end of the month.

Martin Tresidder, operations director for Queensberry Real Estate, said at the end of November that the bus station had been "‘essentially completed’" and that they were only completing "‘some very few minor items’".

Services will start running at the new station from Friday from the bays numbered 1 to 15, with other services in bays 16 to 25 continuing to operate from Upper Dock Street, Newport Market.

The new station will see Newport Transport, Cardiff Bus, NAT, Stagecoach and First Bus operate from the full range of 25 bays.

A Newport council spokeswoman said: “It is anticipated that thousands of passengers will use Newport City Bus Station every day.

“Routes available from the bus station will bring passengers in from across Newport, the Valleys and as far afield as Cardiff and Bristol.

“Newport City Bus Station is perfectly placed for commuters to enjoy the full range of leisure and retail facilities in the city centre.”